SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois state lawmakers could help many survivors of gun violence by passing plans this year to re-open cold cases and provide more transparency on homicide investigations. Advocates argue this policy could finally give their families closure.
Black Illinoisans are 37 times more likely to die from gun violence than white residents. Black murders are also 23% less likely to be solved than murders of white people, according to Everytown for Gun Safety.
"Much too often, people don't want to be a part of these processes because of dismal and abysmal clearance rates," said Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago). "Furthermore, when the clearance rate has been such an opaque measure of what's going on in our communities and where justice has not been served, we need to find a way to simplify this."
Buckner and other Democratic lawmakers hope to pass a plan allowing immediate family members to petition law enforcement to review unsolved murder cases after three years of inactivity. Advocates told the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee Monday that families cannot properly heal unless they receive frequent updates from police that potentially lead to arrest.
"Oftentimes, and without our knowledge, law enforcement moves along in their careers and we never get pertinent information about the crime," said Marsha Lee, an advocate with the Everytown Survivor Network. "We're just left behind with the added trauma of knowing the shooter will not be held accountable."
A separate bill could require every law enforcement agency in Illinois to publish monthly data on homicides, arrests of alleged perpetrators, and the status of homicide investigations. Law enforcement would be tasked with submitting the information to Illinois State Police and their official website for the public to view.
"We're grieving. We're mourning," said gun violence survivor Leatrice Haynes. "And all you want is for someone to care enough to properly investigate and hold someone accountable for your loved one's death."
The Illinois Sheriffs Association opposes both bills, but the legislation has gained strong Democratic support. The House Judiciary-Criminal Committee could vote on both measures during a hearing Tuesday afternoon.
"It allows police leadership to identify where changes can be made in their police procedures and tactics to allow for increased effectiveness," Buckner explained. "Policymakers like us can assess the impacts of enacted legislation on homicide rates in any given area of the state, assisting them in identifying changes that need to be made to existing legislation."
Copyright 2024. WAND TV. All rights reserved.
