Governor names members of Criminal Justice Reform Commission

Governor Bruce Rauner announced yesterday, the members of the newly created Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform. The commission is made of up experts from various fields within the criminal justice system and state legislators. It will be led by Rodger Heaton, the Governor’s Public Safety Director.

The commission will analyze all aspects of the criminal justice system from the initial arrest to re-entry into the community. It will look for evidenced-based strategies to reduce the rate of imprisonment, while preserving the public’s safety.

“The current prison system is costly, overcrowded and ineffective,” Gov. Rauner said. “We need to reform the system to stop the costly and vicious cycle of recidivism and help those who’ve left prison get the help they need to become productive members of society. This will ultimately save taxpayers money and protect the safety of the public.”

Members of the Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform are as follows:

Chairman: Rodger Heaton – Public Safety Director & Homeland Security Advisor, Office of the Governor
Vice Chairman: Jason Barclay – General Counsel, Office of the Governor
Kathryn T. Bocanegra – Director of Violence Prevention, Enlace Chicago
Jerry Butler – Vice President of Community Corrections, Safer Foundation
Brendan Kelley – State’s Attorney, St. Clair County
Andrew D. Leipold – Edwin M. Adams Professor of Law, University of Illinois
John Maki – Executive Director, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority
Douglas B. Marlowe – Chief of Science, Law & Policy, National Association of Drug Court Professionals
David E. Olson – Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Loyola University
Michael J. Pelletier – Illinois Appellate Defender
Elena Quintana – Executive Director, Institute for Public Safety – Adler University
Elizabeth Robb – (Ret.) Chief Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit
Pamela F. Rodriguez – President and CEO, Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities
Kathryn Saltmarsh – Executive Director, Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council
Stephen G. Sawyer – Director of Specialty Courts, 2nd Judicial Circuit & (Ret.) Chief Judge
Michael Connelly – State Senator
Karen McConnaughay – State Senator
Michael Noland – State Senator
Kwame Raoul – State Senator
Scott Drury – State Representative
Elgie R. Sims, Jr. – State Representative
Brian W. Stewart – State Representative
John M. Cabello – State Representative
Director, Illinois Department of Corrections
Howard A. Peters III– Former Director, Illinois Department of Corrections
Greg Sullivan – Executive Director, Illinois Sheriffs’ Association
Gladyse C. Taylor – Assistant Director, Illinois Department of Corrections
Michael J. Tardy – Director, Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts

Staff:

Samantha A. Gaddy – Public Safety Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor
Zafreen Farishta – Public Safety Dunn Fellow, Office of the Governor