A bill seeking to address assaults and public indecency against those working in correctional settings – including correctional officers, deputies, attorneys and civilians – passed the Illinois Senate with a vote of 57-0 last Thursday, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today.
SB 416, which was proposed by Sheriff Dart and sponsored by Sen. Bill Cunningham, would allow correctional administrators to revoke up to 90 days of pre-trial or good-behavior credit from an individual in custody if a disciplinary board were to uphold a charge of public indecency, assault or battery to a peace officer.
Additionally, the bill would allow the revocation of up to 365 days for each subsequent sustained charge of public indecency, assault or battery to a peace officer.
“The penalties within this legislation should serve as an effective deterrent against the disgraceful behavior that those working in correctional settings too often experience,” said Sen. Cunningham. “It’s important that we protect the men and women who do these important jobs with courage every day.”
The bill will now head to the Illinois House of Representatives where it will be sponsored by Rep. Frances Ann Hurley.