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ObamaNation See other ObamaNation Articles Title: Diversion program for people caught with illegal guns for the first time is expanded, extended A probation program for people charged for the first time with illegally possessing a gun will continue indefinitely under a measure signed by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker after passing through the legislature with some Republican support. The program was previously set to expire at the end of the year and limited to defendants under 21 with no prior convictions for violent crimes. In addition to striking the expiration date, the new law does away with the age restriction. The measure is among the latest criminal justice reforms approved by Pritkzer, who signed it last Friday, the same day he held a news conference to herald his signature on legislation that loosened restrictions on people who remain under state supervision after being released from prison. The evening before, Pritzker discussed the first-time gun offender program during a talk about gun violence at a north suburban synagogue. Pritzker said the diversion program was meant to help young people who grow up in underserved communities and around violence avoid a life of crime. “This is a problem that we’ve been trying to deal with in so many other ways in sentencing,” the governor said before an audience of a couple hundred in Temple Jeremiah in Northfield. “We’re not talking about people who committed terrible violent crimes. We’re talking about people who committed a felony but not a violent felony.” The first-time gun offender pilot program was passed about six years ago by the Democrat-controlled Illinois General Assembly. Under the new guidelines, participants will no longer be required to submit to a drug test or show they’re seeking employment, enrolling in school or performing community service. Courts would still have leeway to impose those requirements, however. The program would also now last anywhere from six months to two years, instead of the previous 18 months to two years. Once completed, the gun charge against participants is dropped. Poster Comment: More brilliant Democrat thinking. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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