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At prreform24.org, we discuss the unfairness of Illinois Laws. Including Truth-In-Sentencing, Accountability, Firearm Enhancement and DeFacto Life Sentences and the reinstatement of Parole.

June 19, 1865-June 19, 1998-Truth in Sentencing

JUNE 19, 1865-----JUNE 19,1998 The refusal of abolishing modern-day slavery in Illinois, Called Truth in Sentencing.

ü In 1619 Slavery began. A condition in which one human being was owned by another. A slave was considered by law, property and was deprived of rights held by free persons.

ü On June 19, 1865, the last of the enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas learned they had been freed.

ü On August 20, 1995, Truth-In-Sentencing went into effect in Illinois and was declared unconstitutional by the Illinois Supreme Court. Stating that the law violated provisions of the Illinois Constitution that require legislation to be limited to a single subject.

ü On June 19, 1998, the Truth-In-Sentencing law was revised and went into effect. Senator Barack Obama was one of the many that strongly pushed Truth in Sentencing into law.

ü Most people assume that the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution wholly abolished legal slavery in the United States in any form. The reality is that the Thirteenth Amendment contained one important exception, being Prison Labor. Those who have been convicted of a crime can still, legally, be forced to work in this country, and that exception has been a driving force for how our prison system looks today and the mass incarceration of Blacks and Latinos.

June 19, 1865 to June 19, 1998. The end of slavery of African Americans to the new generation of modern-day slavery for all that are and ever will be incarcerated in the state of Illinois.

Prisoners routinely work for pennies per hour. This is economically exploited and opens the door for infringement of human rights. It is also known that prisoners are worked under harsh conditions. Their living conditions and rights have also become increasingly poor and removed completely whether free Americans will admit it or not.

ü June 19, 1865, and June 19, 1998. The dates in similarity prove how Illinois is a revolving circle of injustice. Extended laws such as Truth-In-Sentencing are outrageously inhumane.

All prison labor has financial benefits to the government. The most common type of prison labor is institutional. Jobs that support the prison operations may include cooking, cleaning, laundry, landscaping and other jobs. On average the pay is $0.14-$63 an hour. In many of these jobs, without the use of this free or heavily discounted labor, the facility would need to hire a business to do the work at market rate. This difference in pay translates into a profit for the state that is incarcerating individuals, creating an incentive to continue to incarcerate more and more people.

13th Amendment* Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Key Features of Truth in Sentencing:

Mandatory Minimums:
TIS often involves mandatory minimum sentences for certain crimes, requiring offenders to serve a specific percentage of their sentence. https://famm.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FAMM-Truth-in-Sentencing-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Variations:
While the 85% rule is common, some states have different requirements, and some have adopted TIS only for specific types of offenses. How Mandatory Minimums Perpetuate Mass Incarceration and What to Do About It – The Sentencing Project

Historical Context:

1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act:
This act incentivized states to adopt TIS by providing grant funding for states that implemented TIS laws for violent offenders. Archived | Truth in Sentencing and State Sentencing Practices | National Institute of Justice

State-Level Implementation:
Many states have adopted TIS laws,with some requiring 85% of the sentence to be served, while others have different percentages or requirements. https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/tssp.pdf

Examples:
Washington State passed the first TIS law in 1984. The federal TIS incentive grant program was based on an 85% rule. Archived | Truth in Sentencing and State Sentencing Practices | National Institute of Justice

Impact and Debate:

Increased Incarceration:
TIS has contributed to longer prison sentences and a larger prison population. https://www.restorejustice.org/learn/history-of-sentencing/

Cost Implications:
Increased incarceration rates lead to higher costs for states and the federal government. https://www.numberanalytics.com/blog/ultimate-guide-truth-in-sentencing-laws

Crime Reduction Debate:
Proponents argue TIS reduces crime by incapacitating offenders for longer periods, while critics point to potential increases in recidivism rates and social costs. Truth in Sentencing: Why States Should Make Violent Criminals Do Their Time | Office of Justice Programs

Racial Disparities:
Some research indicates TIS laws can disproportionately impact minority communities. https://blogs.cuit.columbia.edu/rightsviews/2020/02/28/truth-in-sentencing-mass-incarceration-in-the-united-states/