PATRYCJA KARLINS

Party affiliation (options: Democrat, Republican, Independent, other):

REPUBLICAN

QUESTION 1: There are several areas of criminal sentencing law that help fuel long-term incarceration. For each of the policy areas below, please indicate if you support changes. Expand on your answer if you would like to share additional comments. 

Mandatory gun enhancements: Judges must add 15 years to the sentence of a person 18 and older who possesses a firearm during a crime. For those ages 17 and younger, judges have the discretion to decide whether to add the gun enhancements.

Should Illinois make gun enhancements discretionary for everyone, even adults?

NO, FIREARM ENHANCEMENTS SHOULD ONLY BE DISCRETIONARY FOR JUVENILES AND IN CASES OF MANSLAUGHTER WHERE THE DEFENDANT BELIEVED THAT HE OR SHE WAS ACTING IN SELF-DEFENSE

Accountability: Accountability theory allows individuals to be convicted of the same serious crimes as their co-defendant(s) in an underlying felony, even if they did not directly participate in or plan to participate in the other crime. Should Illinois abolish or narrow the usage of accountability theory?

YES, ACCOUNTABILITY HAS BEEN ABUSED BY PROSECUTORS, ESPECIALLY IN CASES OF MURDER, WHERE IT HAS BEEN USED WHERE TRADITIONAL FELONY-MURDER RULE DID NOT APPLY. WHILE THE TRADITIONAL FELONY-MURDER RULE IS ACCEPTABLE, PROSECUTORS SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE THEORY OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO HOLD SOMEONE GUILTY OF MURDER WHERE THE FELONY-MURDER RULE DOES NOT APPLY.

Earned sentencing credits: In Illinois, most individuals serving prison time are unable to earn time off their sentences for good behavior or for successfully completing rehabilitative programming because of a “truth in sentencing” law passed in 1998. This reduces incentives for good behavior and decreases safety in prisons. Should Illinois restore earned sentencing credits to pre-1998 levels?

NO, IT’S NOT TOTALLY “YES” OR “NO” QUESTION FOR ME. THE TRUTH-IN-SENTENCING LAW SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED TO JUVENILES AT ALL. ALSO, I HAVE NO OBJECTION TO MODIFYING THE CURRENT TIS LAWS WHERE DATA COLLECTED SINCE 1998 SHOWS THEY CAN BE IMPROVED. FINALLY, SENTENCING CREDITS FOR PRISONERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED CERTAIN PROGRAMS IS APPROPRIATE.

Parole review: Parole is early earned release and allows people who are rehabilitated to come home. Since Illinois abolished parole in 1978, the only people who are eligible for parole are those who were sentenced before 1978 and most young people under 21 who were convicted after June 2019. Should Illinois restore parole as a system for early release?

NO, NOT UNTIL THE PROBLEMS OF ENDEMIC CORRUPTION AND THE MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM OF JUSTICE IS ADDRESSED. TO ALLOW A PAROLE SYSTEM IN ILLINOIS, THE MOST CORRUPT STATE IN THE USA, WILL ONLY GIVE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR CORRUPT OFFICIALS TO THRIVE.

Life without parole sentences for children and young adults: Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Miller v. Alabama, Illinois created parole review opportunities for most people 20 and younger entering the system. Youth could still serve their full sentence if the Prisoner Review Board and Governor reject their application for early release. Should Illinois now expand parole opportunities to all individuals convicted before age 21?

YES, TO ADOPT A PAROLE SYSTEM FOR JUVENILES WHICH IS ONLY APPLICABLE GOING FORWARD AND WHICH DOES NOT APPLY TO THOSE ALREADY IN PRISON WHO WERE JUVENILES WHEN THEY COMMITTED THEIR CRIMES IS SIMPLY UNJUST.

QUESTION 2: In 2021, the General Assembly created the Resentencing Task Force to consider innovative ways to reduce the prison population by exploring pathways for resentencing review. The Task Force will release its recommendations to the Legislature later this year. Given that Illinois eliminated parole or earned early release for most people in 1978, should people who are serving long sentences and who are rehabilitated be allowed the opportunity to apply for early release?

YES, BUT ONLY IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND ONLY AFTER A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THEIR SENTENCES HAS BEEN SERVED.

QUESTION 3: What do you think are the best ways to address violence and ensure community safety? 

WE NEED TO PUT AN EMPHASIS ON A STRONG FAMILY UNIT. CHILDREN NEED TWO PARENTS. GIVE JUVENILES AND PEOPLE HOPE FOR THEIR FUTURE THROUGH STRONG EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS. CREATE A WELL-TRAINED PROFESSIONAL POLICE FORCE TO ENFORCE THE LAW. LASTLY, REFORM THE JUDICIARY TO WEED OUT INCOMPETENT JUDGES WHO BECOME JUDGES BECAUSE OF POLITICAL CONNECTIONS.

QUESTION 4: What are your general thoughts on the criminal legal system in Illinois (i.e., anything related to policing, incarceration, prosecution, sentencing, or re-entry), and what do you see as the biggest opportunities for improvements over the next several years? Have you experienced any parts of the criminal legal system firsthand, whether through your own personal experience or that of a family member or friend, that you’d like to share?

WE CURRENTLY LIVE IN THE CITY WHERE THE SYSTEM EMPOWERS CRIMINALS AND NEGLECTS VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. IT IS BACKWARDS AND HAS LED TO RISE IN CRIME. THIS CANNOT GO ON. THE SECOND WEAKNESS IN OUR CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM IS THE JUDICIARY. MAJOR REFORMS ARE NEEDED TO WEED OUT INCOMPETENCE AND TO ASSURE THAT ONLY THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE AND COMPETENT PEOPLE BECOME JUDGES. THERE NEEDS TO BE OVERSIGHT, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE ILLINOIS JUDICIAL SYSTEM.