CHECK IT!
As you may know, HB 1961, which would allow judges
to sentence females from Cook County to a community-based
treatment program instead of prison, passed out of the Senate last week and is up for House concurrence this week (the final week). It is still facing opposition by the County, which could stop it in the House.

Please contact your state representative and pass this alert to your mailing lists.

HB 1961 PASSED THE SENATE 54-0!!!!!

IT IS NOW UP FOR HOUSE CONCURRENCE

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CALLED THEIR

SENATOR AND COMMISSIONER--LET'S TAKE THIS ALL THE WAY!!


HB 1961 is alternatives to incarceration enabling legislation that allows Cook County to seek funds to establish a Residential Treatment and Transition center for women. It gives Cook County judges the authority to
sentence women to services rather than State prison.

Please contact your STATE REPRESENTATIVE by May 15, 2002 and ask her/him to TELL SPEAKER MADIGAN TO CALL HB 1961 FOR A CONCURRENCE VOTE!
(www.legis.state.il.us) for contact info.

Join us for a lobby day in Springfield on May 15 2002. Call 312/435-4548 for more information.COOK COUNTY IS STILL OPPOSING THIS LEGISLATION!

WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THIS DOES NOT STOP HB 1961 FROM HOUSE CONCURRENCE.

HISTORY: HB 1961 passed the House last year and was amended and passed by the Senate. Since it was amended in the Senate, it now has to be CONCURRED by the House. THIS IS THE FINAL WEEK FOR CONCURRENCE.

A recent survey shows that the majority of women in Cook County Jail are homeless upon arrest, are detained for non-violent offenses and are survivors of child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence at two and
three times the national average. 82 percent of women in jail are mothers.

For more information contact

the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless at 312/435-4548
or
CLAIM at 312-332-5537
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