103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3964 Introduced , by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-120 new Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a person imprisoned in the penitentiary may, after serving 10 years or more of his or her sentence or cumulative sentences, submit a petition for sentencing review in the circuit court of the county in which he or she was originally sentenced. Provides at the sentencing review hearing the court shall consider various mitigating factors. Provides that following the hearing, the court may affirm or reduce the petitioner's sentence and may depart downward from any mandatory minimum or mandatory sentence enhancement, taking into consideration certain factors. Provides that these provisions shall operate retroactively to provide any person incarcerated for a crime or crimes committed, before the effective date of the amendatory Act, with the opportunity to file a motion for resentencing under these provisions under the terms provided in these provisions. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, nothing in these provisions shall be construed to delay parole or mandatory supervised release consideration for petitioners who, prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act, are or will be eligible for release earlier than provided for in these provisions. Provides that the clerk of the court shall transmit copies of the petitions, any amendments to the petition, and the final orders to the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council. Provides that the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the impact of resentencing motions on the prison population contingent on having sufficient reliable data to support the analysis. Provides that the report shall be filed no later than 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3964 Introduced , by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-120 new 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-120 new Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a person imprisoned in the penitentiary may, after serving 10 years or more of his or her sentence or cumulative sentences, submit a petition for sentencing review in the circuit court of the county in which he or she was originally sentenced. Provides at the sentencing review hearing the court shall consider various mitigating factors. Provides that following the hearing, the court may affirm or reduce the petitioner's sentence and may depart downward from any mandatory minimum or mandatory sentence enhancement, taking into consideration certain factors. Provides that these provisions shall operate retroactively to provide any person incarcerated for a crime or crimes committed, before the effective date of the amendatory Act, with the opportunity to file a motion for resentencing under these provisions under the terms provided in these provisions. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, nothing in these provisions shall be construed to delay parole or mandatory supervised release consideration for petitioners who, prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act, are or will be eligible for release earlier than provided for in these provisions. Provides that the clerk of the court shall transmit copies of the petitions, any amendments to the petition, and the final orders to the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council. Provides that the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the impact of resentencing motions on the prison population contingent on having sufficient reliable data to support the analysis. Provides that the report shall be filed no later than 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3964 Introduced , by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-120 new 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-120 new 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-120 new Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a person imprisoned in the penitentiary may, after serving 10 years or more of his or her sentence or cumulative sentences, submit a petition for sentencing review in the circuit court of the county in which he or she was originally sentenced. Provides at the sentencing review hearing the court shall consider various mitigating factors. Provides that following the hearing, the court may affirm or reduce the petitioner's sentence and may depart downward from any mandatory minimum or mandatory sentence enhancement, taking into consideration certain factors. Provides that these provisions shall operate retroactively to provide any person incarcerated for a crime or crimes committed, before the effective date of the amendatory Act, with the opportunity to file a motion for resentencing under these provisions under the terms provided in these provisions. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, nothing in these provisions shall be construed to delay parole or mandatory supervised release consideration for petitioners who, prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act, are or will be eligible for release earlier than provided for in these provisions. Provides that the clerk of the court shall transmit copies of the petitions, any amendments to the petition, and the final orders to the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council. Provides that the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the impact of resentencing motions on the prison population contingent on having sufficient reliable data to support the analysis. Provides that the report shall be filed no later than 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b A BILL FOR HB3964LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964 LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964 LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b 1 AN ACT concerning criminal law. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Unified Code of Corrections is amended by 5 adding Section 5-4.5-120 as follows: 6 (730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-120 new) 7 Sec. 5-4.5-120. Sentencing review of incarcerated 8 individuals. Any person imprisoned in the penitentiary may, 9 after serving 10 years or more of his or her sentence or 10 cumulative sentences, submit a petition for sentencing review 11 in the circuit court of the county in which he or she was 12 originally sentenced. The procedure for sentencing review 13 shall occur in the following manner: 14 (1) The chief judge of the criminal division of the 15 circuit located in a county of 2,000,000 or more 16 inhabitants, or in counties under 2,000,000 inhabitants, 17 the chief judge of the circuit or a judge assigned by the 18 chief judge, in which the petition is filed, shall assign 19 the matter to any judge. 20 (2) Upon receipt of the petition and assignment to a 21 judge, the judge has 30 days to determine if the 22 petitioner has sought filing in the appropriate court and 23 has served 10 or more years of his or her sentence. If the 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3964 Introduced , by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-120 new 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-120 new 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-120 new Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a person imprisoned in the penitentiary may, after serving 10 years or more of his or her sentence or cumulative sentences, submit a petition for sentencing review in the circuit court of the county in which he or she was originally sentenced. Provides at the sentencing review hearing the court shall consider various mitigating factors. Provides that following the hearing, the court may affirm or reduce the petitioner's sentence and may depart downward from any mandatory minimum or mandatory sentence enhancement, taking into consideration certain factors. Provides that these provisions shall operate retroactively to provide any person incarcerated for a crime or crimes committed, before the effective date of the amendatory Act, with the opportunity to file a motion for resentencing under these provisions under the terms provided in these provisions. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, nothing in these provisions shall be construed to delay parole or mandatory supervised release consideration for petitioners who, prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act, are or will be eligible for release earlier than provided for in these provisions. Provides that the clerk of the court shall transmit copies of the petitions, any amendments to the petition, and the final orders to the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council. Provides that the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the impact of resentencing motions on the prison population contingent on having sufficient reliable data to support the analysis. Provides that the report shall be filed no later than 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b A BILL FOR 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-120 new LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964 LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964- 2 -LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964 - 2 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964 - 2 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b 1 court determines that either of those factors are not 2 satisfied, it shall dismiss the petition and notify the 3 petitioner of the reason for the dismissal. This 4 notification shall be served upon the petitioner by 5 certified mail within 10 days of its entry. If the court 6 determines the petition was appropriately filed, it shall 7 docket the petition. If the petitioner is without counsel 8 and alleges in the petition for sentencing review that he 9 or she is without means to procure counsel, he or she shall 10 state whether or not he or she wishes counsel to be 11 appointed to represent him or her. If appointment of 12 counsel is requested, the court shall appoint counsel if 13 satisfied that the petitioner has no means to procure 14 counsel. The clerk of the circuit court shall serve a copy 15 of the petition to the State's Attorney of that county or 16 his or her representative. 17 (3) Upon receipt of the petition for sentencing 18 review, the State's Attorney's Office shall provide the 19 victim or his or her family, or both, with a copy of the 20 petition, and notice of any restorative justice programs 21 available. 22 (4) The petitioner, if pro se, or his or her attorney 23 may amend the petition for sentencing review. 24 (5) The State's Attorney must be afforded an 25 opportunity to respond to the petition and the court shall 26 provide the petitioner with the opportunity to reply. HB3964 - 2 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964- 3 -LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964 - 3 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964 - 3 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b 1 (6) Within 90 days after the filing of the petition 2 for sentencing review, the court shall set the matter for 3 a hearing. This date may be extended by motion of either 4 party and at the court's discretion for good cause shown. 5 (7) At the sentencing review hearing, the court shall: 6 (A) consider in mitigation the factors listed in 7 paragraphs (A) through (K) of paragraph (8) of this 8 Section; 9 (B) consider the evidence, if any, received at 10 trial; 11 (C) consider any presentence reports; 12 (D) consider the financial impact of incarceration 13 based on the financial impact statement filed with the 14 clerk of the court by the Department of Corrections; 15 (E) consider any additional evidence and 16 information offered by the parties in aggravation and 17 mitigation, including, but not limited to, scientific 18 evidence of recidivism; 19 (F) consider the person's overall record of 20 behavior while incarcerated, including disciplinary 21 history, participation in educational and vocational 22 programs available to the petitioner, including but 23 not limited to restorative justice programs, and 24 extent of cooperation with staff; 25 (G) hear arguments as to sentencing alternatives; 26 (H) afford the petitioner the opportunity to make HB3964 - 3 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964- 4 -LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964 - 4 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964 - 4 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b 1 a statement on his or her behalf without being subject 2 to cross-examination; 3 (I) afford the victim or families of victims of 4 the crime, or both, for which the petitioner was 5 originally sentenced an opportunity to provide a 6 victim impact statement to the court. The court shall 7 permit those statements and consider the live 8 testimony of a victim or a victim representative. 9 (8) Following the hearing, the court may affirm or 10 reduce the petitioner's sentence and shall be authorized 11 to depart downward from any mandatory minimum or mandatory 12 sentence enhancement, taking into consideration the 13 following factors: 14 (A) the petitioner's current age, as well as the 15 petitioner's age, impetuosity, and level of maturity 16 at the time of the offense, including the ability to 17 consider risks and consequences of behavior, and the 18 presence of cognitive or developmental disability, if 19 any; 20 (B) whether the petitioner was subjected to 21 outside pressure, including peer pressure, familial 22 pressure, or negative influences; 23 (C) the petitioner's family and community 24 circumstances, home environment, educational and 25 social background, including any history of parental 26 neglect, physical, mental, or sexual abuse, HB3964 - 4 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964- 5 -LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964 - 5 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964 - 5 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b 1 involvement in the child welfare system, or other 2 childhood trauma; 3 (D) the nature and circumstances of the offense; 4 (E) the petitioner's degree of participation and 5 specific role in the offense, including the level of 6 planning by the defendant before the offense; 7 (F) whether the petitioner was able to 8 meaningfully participate in his or her defense; 9 (G) the petitioner's prior juvenile or criminal 10 history; 11 (H) the history and characteristics of the 12 petitioner at the time of the petition, including 13 rehabilitation and maturity demonstrated by the 14 petitioner; 15 (I) any report from a physical, mental, or 16 psychiatric examination of the petitioner conducted by 17 a licensed health professional; 18 (J) any changes to the law governing criminal 19 convictions, dispositions, or length of stay since the 20 time of sentencing; and 21 (K) any other information the court finds relevant 22 and reliable, including an expression of remorse, if 23 appropriate. However, if the petitioner, on advice of 24 counsel chooses not to make a statement, the court 25 shall not consider a lack of an expression of remorse 26 as an aggravating factor. HB3964 - 5 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964- 6 -LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964 - 6 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964 - 6 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b 1 The order following a sentencing review hearing is a 2 final judgment. Any final judgment entered upon the 3 petition shall be reviewed in a manner pursuant to the 4 rules of the Supreme Court. 5 (9) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to 6 the contrary, any offender who has petitioned the circuit 7 court for sentencing review pursuant to this Section shall 8 not be eligible to submit a second petition until at least 9 5 years have elapsed since the date on which the circuit 10 court ruled upon the initial petition. In considering the 11 second petition, the court shall follow the procedure 12 stated in paragraphs (2) through (8) of this Section. 13 Following a hearing on the second petition pursuant to 14 this paragraph (9), the court may affirm or reduce the 15 petitioner's sentence. The order following a hearing 16 pursuant to this paragraph is a final judgment. 17 (10) The petitioner may file a motion seeking leave 18 for sentencing review when 5 years have elapsed since the 19 date on which the circuit court ruled on a petition filed 20 pursuant to paragraph (9) of this section. The motion must 21 clearly set forth the need for sentencing review, 22 including the efforts the petitioner has made towards 23 rehabilitation and his or her demonstrated maturity. 24 (A) Within 90 days after the filing of this 25 motion, the court shall examine the motion and enter 26 an order thereon. In considering a motion under this HB3964 - 6 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964- 7 -LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964 - 7 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964 - 7 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b 1 paragraph, the court may examine the court file of the 2 proceeding in which the petitioner was convicted, any 3 action taken by an appellate court in that proceeding, 4 any transcripts of that proceeding, and any transcript 5 or court documents from previous proceedings under 6 this Section. If the court determines the motion is 7 frivolous or is patently without merit, it shall deny 8 the motion in a written order, specifying the 9 underlying basis for its decision that continued 10 incarceration is appropriate and necessary. The order 11 is a final judgment and shall be served upon the 12 petitioner by certified mail within 10 days of its 13 entry. 14 (B) If the petition is not dismissed under 15 subparagraph (A), the court shall order the motion for 16 sentencing review to be docketed for further 17 consideration in accordance with the procedure stated 18 in paragraphs (2) through (8) of this Section. 19 (11) This Section shall operate retroactively to 20 provide any person incarcerated for a crime or crimes 21 committed, before the effective date of this amendatory 22 Act of the 103rd General Assembly, with the opportunity to 23 file a motion for resentencing under this Section under 24 the terms provided in this Section. 25 (12) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 26 Section to the contrary, nothing in this Section shall be HB3964 - 7 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964- 8 -LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964 - 8 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b HB3964 - 8 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b 1 construed to delay parole or mandatory supervised release 2 consideration for petitioners who, prior to the effective 3 date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, 4 are or will be eligible for release earlier than this 5 Section provides. 6 (13) The clerk of the court shall transmit copies of 7 the petitions, any amendments to the petition, and the 8 final orders to the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory 9 Council. The Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council 10 shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly on 11 the impact of resentencing motions on the prison 12 population contingent on having sufficient reliable data 13 to support the analysis. The report shall be filed no 14 later than 3 years after the effective date of this 15 amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly. HB3964 - 8 - LRB103 28832 RLC 55217 b