State Senator Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) is co-sponsoring a comprehensive package of legislation designed to support and protect victims of crime by targeting fentanyl poisoning, intoxicated drivers, threats against childcare facilities, and domestic abuse.
“These bills are designed to ensure that victims of crime have a fair chance and justice through the legal system, and that criminals are held accountable for the actions,” said Senator Plummer. “In recent years we’ve seen too many proposals that ignore victims and appear to do little more than coddle criminals. This legislation represents a much-needed shift in our justice system.”
Components of the legislative package aim to increase penalties for selling drugs containing fentanyl and prevent overdose deaths. Senate Bill 73 stipulates that in addition to other penalties in current law, a person unlawfully selling or dispensing any drug that contains a detectable amount of fentanyl is guilty of a Class X felony and faces no less than 9 to 40 years in prison in addition to a fine of up to $250,000.
Destigmatizing fentanyl deaths is the goal of SB 1086 which would require that in cases where fentanyl either causes or contributes to a death, the coroner or medical examiner will report the death as fentanyl poisoning instead of a fentanyl overdose.
Other measures emphasis squarely on justice for victims of violent crime.
A new offense of Domestic Assault would be created by SB 1976, which provides law enforcement with a greater ability to go after domestic offenders who knowingly place any family member of their household in fear they are about to be seriously harmed. It also ensures that defendants released from custody ahead of a trial will be ordered to refrain from contacting their victims or entering their residences for a minimum of 72 hours.
A blended sentencing provision for aggravated driving under the influence where an accident kills one person and inflicts great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to one person or more would be created by SB 1405. This legislation would allow for justice for all victims instead of just the person who was killed.
Finally, SB 1968 would put daycares in line with schools by making it a felony to threaten a childcare institution or daycare center building or threaten violence, death, or bodily harm directed against someone at one of these facilities.
“Passage of these bills would send a clear message to criminals, that Illinois is putting the rights of victims first, and getting serious about providing them with justice,” concluded Plummer.