COUNTRYSIDE—State Representative Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), has been appointed by House Republican Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) to serve on the newly formed Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council. The purpose of the council is to review sentencing policies and practices in Illinois and examine how these policies and practices impact the criminal justice system.

“In light of recent developments it is evident that we need to re-examine policies within the Department of Corrections,” Rep. Durkin said. “The main task of this council is to ensure the public’s safety is not being compromised through any law or administrative policy.”

“I selected Representative Durkin to serve on the council because of his extensive legal experience and background as a former Cook County Gangs and Narcotics Prosecutor. He brings to the council his legal expertise and a unique insight into what steps need to be taken to better protect our citizens,” said Cross.

The council established by a new law (Public Act 96-711) will collect and analyze sentencing data, crime trends, and existing correctional resources. The council will prepare criminal justice population projections annually and analyze data relevant to proposed sentencing legislation and its effect on current policies or practices.

“Their job will be to collect data, analyze, and report back to the General Assembly and the Governor’s Office,” said Peter Baroni, Director of the Criminal Law Edit, Alignment and Reform (CLEAR) Commission, which recommended formation of the new council. The Clear Commission has been working since 2005 to review and reform the Illinois Criminal Code and Code of Corrections making them less complex and easier to comprehend. Through its work, the CLEAR Commission found there to be a lack of regular sentencing data needed by policy makers to improve the overall management and efficiency of the criminal justice process.

Rep. Durkin joins a wide array of council members including law enforcement officials, victims’ advocates, retired judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and other elected officials.

“We need to re-examine not only suggested sentencing periods, but policies that may alter those sentences that put the public at large in danger,” said Durkin.

COUNTRYSIDE—State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), wants to see companies held accountable to fix recalled bus parts.

 “It is unacceptable for these companies to go for years without being required to replace recalled parts,” said Rep. Durkin. “We need to enforce these recalls and we need to do it now.”

 A November 2009 investigation concluded that as many as 2,000 school buses have potentially serious safety problems.  It took the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration years to find who was responsible for the recalled parts to get them fixed.

 A resolution in the Illinois House co-sponsored by Rep. Durkin would ask the NHTSA to enforce timely recall efforts by the manufacturers to replace the defective components. The resolution also prompts the Illinois Department of Transportation to review their procedures and put a concrete system in place to ensure the buses in our state are being repaired promptly.

 “We cannot let our buses shuttle more children when we know the parts are unsafe,” said Durkin. “The risk is simply too great.”

Illinois General Assembly

Statement from Rep. Durkin

“When you take an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth and then purposely evade and leave out critical information in my mind you have violated the oath and perjured yourself.  The public admonition letter to Roland Burris confirms what most members of the House Special Investigative Impeachment Committee knew all along that his testimony and sworn affidavits were ‘inconsistent, incomplete and misleading.’  Instead of being embarrassed, Roland Burris today issued a press release taking a victory lap.  He is an embarrassment to the State of Illinois and should apologize to the people he represents.”  

Letter from U.S. Senate Ethics committee to Sen. Burris: burris_112009

Letter from Illinois House Republican Impeachment Committee members to Sen. Burris: Burris

Durkin calls reform effort meaningless in fight for good government

Springfield, IL…State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) flatly opposed the latest reform proposal to emerge from legislative Democrats citing a lack of limits on contributions by legislative leaders.

“These measurers accomplished little more than providing incumbency protection talking points to Democrat legislators, while doing virtually nothing to clean up the corruption plaguing Illinois government,” stated Durkin. “The question I have for legislative Democrats is really, haven’t we learned anything yet?

House Amendment #3 to Senate Bill 1466 is House Speaker Michael Madigan’s second attempt at campaign finance reform. The first, HB7 96th GA which was lauded by legislative Democrats and Governor Pat Quinn as being “landmark” legislation, was subsequently vetoed as public pressure for meaningful reform continued to build.

This latest reform installment lays out varying degrees of restrictions and limits for political contributions, with guidelines attempting to restrict the flow of money from individuals and businesses as well as restricting the flow of money between political committees. Continue reading »