{"id":549,"date":"2023-06-17T17:36:17","date_gmt":"2023-06-17T17:36:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/restorejusticeillinois.org\/?post_type=candidate-update&p=549"},"modified":"2023-06-17T17:36:17","modified_gmt":"2023-06-17T17:36:17","slug":"linda-robertson-2022","status":"publish","type":"candidate-update","link":"https:\/\/restorejusticeillinois.org\/candidate-update\/linda-robertson-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"LINDA ROBERTSON – 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"
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LINDA ROBERTSON – 2022 <\/h3>\n \n

CANDIDATE FOR THE 65TH HOUSE <\/p>\n \n

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Party affiliation (options: Democrat, Republican, Independent, other)<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

DEMOCRAT<\/h5>\n
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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.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mandatory gun enhancements<\/em>: 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.<\/p>\n

Should Illinois make gun enhancements discretionary for everyone, even adults?<\/strong><\/p>\n

THE JUVENILE BRAIN DEVELOPMENT IS SO VARIED AND I BELIEVE THE JUDGE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE FACTS OF THE CASE.<\/h5>\n
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Accountability:<\/em>\u00a0Accountability 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.\u00a0Should Illinois abolish or narrow the usage of accountability theory?<\/strong><\/p>\n

YES<\/h5>\n
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Earned sentencing credits:<\/em>\u00a0In 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 \u201ctruth in sentencing\u201d law passed in 1998. This reduces incentives for good behavior and decreases safety in prisons.\u00a0Should Illinois restore earned sentencing credits to pre-1998 levels?<\/strong><\/p>\n

YES<\/h5>\n
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Parole review:<\/em>\u00a0Parole 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.\u00a0Should Illinois restore parole as a system for early release?<\/strong><\/p>\n

YES<\/h5>\n
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Life without parole sentences for children and young adults:<\/em>\u00a0Following the U.S. Supreme Court\u2019s decision in\u00a0Miller v. Alabama<\/em>, 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.\u00a0Should Illinois now expand parole opportunities to all individuals convicted before age 21?<\/strong><\/p>\n

YES, THE JUVENILE BRAIN ISN\u2019T MATURE UNTIL 25. WHILE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE SO DANGEROUS THEY SHOULD NEVER BE RELEASED, THE MANDATORY LIFE SENTENCE SEEMS UNREASONABLE<\/h5>\n
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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.<\/strong>\u00a0Given that Illinois eliminated parole or earned early release for most people in 1978,<\/strong>\u00a0should people who are serving long sentences and who are rehabilitated be allowed the opportunity to apply for early release?<\/strong><\/p>\n

YES<\/h5>\n
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QUESTION 3: What do you think are the best ways to address violence and ensure community safety?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

REDUCING THE NUMBER OF GUNS IN THE COMMUNITY. UNFORTUNATELY FEDERAL LAWS ALLOW STATES WITH LAX LAWS BRING GUNS INTO ILLINOIS, WHICH MEANS WE NEED CHANGES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. OTHER FACTORS INCLUDE JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND EDUCATION AS WELL AS PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY IN A POSTIVE WAY. MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE AN ISSUE. WHILE MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE PREYED UPON THAN COMMIT VIOLENT CRIMES, THEY OFTEN END UP IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.<\/h5>\n
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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\u2019d like to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

THIS SURVEY IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO FILL OUT BECAUSE I AM A SCIENTIST, NOT A LAWYER AND TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE NUANCES AND FILL IT OUT INTELLIGENTLY, YOU NEED TO HAVE A JD WITH A BACKGROUND IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. I CONSULTED WITH A FRIEND WHO HAS WORKED IN THE PROSECUTOR OFFICE AND THE QUESTIONS ARE NOT SIMPLE.
\nMY HUSBAND WAS A TEACHER AT IYC ST CHARLES IN THE 1990\u2019S-2000\u2019S AND HE TALKED ABOUT HOW RECIDIVISM WHEN DOWN DRAMATICALLY WITH STUDENTS WHO EARNED THEIR GED. SHERIFF HAIN\u2019S PROGRAM TO TRAIN OFFENDERS AND MOVE THEM INTO JOBS HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN KANE COUNTY.
\nSENTENCING GUIDELINES ARE ALSO AN ISSUE. WHILE I AM IN FAVOR OF JUDGES BEING ABLE TO USE DISCRETION, THERE ARE CONCERNS WITH UNEVEN APPLICATION OF JUSTICE, PARTICULARLY WITH MINORITIES AS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND ALSO DIFFERENCES IN JUDGES WHO ARE LIGHT SENTENCERS VS THOSE WHO IMPOSE VERY LONG SENTENCES.
\nI AM OPEN TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT THESE ISSUES, PARTICULARLY IF SOMEONE PROVIDES DATA TO SUPPORT THEIR IDEAS AND GOALS.<\/h5>\n
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