Illinois Governor JB Pritzker agreed to a contract that would give AFSCME workers an increase in pay and a step increase. | Facebook
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker agreed to a contract that would give AFSCME workers an increase in pay and a step increase. | Facebook
Rep. Deanne Mazzochi is dissatisfied with Gov. Pritzker’s Prisoner Review Board.
Mazzochi said in a Facebook post that Pritzker's Prisoner Review Board prioritizes criminals over victims after Pritzker commuted the sentence of a man who shot and injured a police officer and also murdered an elderly man.
"Governor Pritzker's Prisoner Review Board continues to put criminals before victims. Releasing these violent offenders not only causes more pain for the victims and their families, it shows a complete lack of respect for their rights," said Mazzochi on Facebook.
Pritzker and his appointed Illinois Prisoner Review Board have commuted the almost 100-year sentence of Kensley Hawkins, a man who shot and injured a former Chicago Police officer and was later convicted of murdering a 65-year-old man, The Center Square reported. Robert Mizera, the former CPD officer whom Hawkins shot in 1980, said at a press conference, "I was informed by email that Mr. Hawkins had been released from prison with no reason given. The governor did not call me, he did not ask me what I thought and he probably did not care, so that's my dealing with Governor Pritzker and his release of people who obviously should still be in prison." Chicago Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara said at the conference, "If an officer cannot get justice, and their families cannot get justice, what does the average person think is going to happen to the monsters that murder their loved ones?" Pritzker has commuted the sentences of more than 20 criminals since taking office.
"Mr. Hawkins was zealously represented by Department Counsel Lisa Schoedel at Jenner & Block, as part of IPP's pro bono program. Ms. Schoedel's commitment and dedication to Mr. Hawkins and his case paid off: Last week, she received a call from the Illinois Governor's Office, telling her that Mr. Hawkins would be coming home," according to a post on the Jenner & Block website.
In Illinois, 17% of people released from prison will return within a year, and 43% will be re-incarcerated within three years, according to World Population Review.
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