Illinois State Senator Patricia Van Pelt

Van Pelt continuing a push for law enforcement accountability

: Published: 18 March 2016

Chicago - The top priority this legislative sessionfor Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-5th Senate) has been law enforcement accountability. Van Pelt has introduced legislation that directly addresses the high profile issues within community policing.

Last Friday, Van Pelt and the Senate Executive Subcommittee on Police Professionalism met at the Bilandic Building in Chicago to hear testimony on Senate bills 2210, 2233 and 2370, all legislation the senator is sponsoring. Van Pelt represents some of Chicago’s most violence-stricken areas, in addition to some communities disproportionately affected by a lack of law enforcement accountability.

"Mistrust of law enforcement is plaguing our communities. There’s not a week that goes by that I don’t get a complaint from my neighbors in the district," Van Pelt said shortly before the hearing started.

More information on Van Pelt’s legislation can be found below.

 Senate Bill 2210: Establishes that videos and other materials or documents related to police misconduct are subject to the Freedom of Information Act, except when an exemption is approved by a judge

 Senate Bill 2233: Prohibits destruction of all records related to complaints, investigations and adjudications of police misconduct and requires permanent retention of those records, applies to records currently in existence or created in the future, and expressly overrides any agreement or order to destroy these records

 Senate Bill 2370: Requires that all minors be represented by counsel throughout custodial interrogations, and makes statements made by a minor during a custodial interrogation without counsel inadmissible in juvenile or adult court proceedings

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Van Pelt tackles lack of accountability within Chicago Police Department

: Published: 25 January 2016

PVP Press Conference final

CHICAGO - Last Wednesday, State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago), who represents some of Chicago's most violence-stricken neighborhoods, standing with colleagues and members of the community called for accountability within the Chicago Police Department. Van Pelt is sponsoring legislation a series a legislative initiatives directly targeting that lack of accountability: SB 2210, SB 2231 and SB 2233.

The package of bills pertains to creating an independent police review board, retention of police misconduct records and FOIA requests detailing police misconduct.

"Accountability has been a major issue throughout the City of Chicago, specifically as it relates to policing. Introducing and passing these measures are a strong step in the right direct," Sen. Van Pelt said.

In the past year, Illinois has seen numerous efforts from the General Assembly to pass measures for policing reform. Most notably, Senate Bill 1304, a measure signed into law by the governor after passing both chambers, establishes wide-ranging rules for body cameras, largely prohibits chokeholds, introduces bias-free policing and demands more data collection on arrests.

Van Pelt to co-host Environmental Town Hall

: Published: 08 October 2015

EnviroTownHall102615 Senator Patricia Van Pelt will sponsor an Environmental Town Hall with the Illinois Sierra Club, Faith in Place and the Environmental Law and Policy Center.

This is an opportunity to hear Illinois’ top environmental leaders give their up-to-the-minute analysis of environmental and conservation issues, including the status of legislation that would create 32,000 new jobs a year in energy efficiency and clean power. Come explore issues that have an impact on the health of your family, as well as on the health of the natural world.

Monday, October 26, 2015 from 6pm to 7:30 pm.

The Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 North Central Park Avenue, Chicago, IL 60624

For more information, call (312) 251-1680.

Directions:

By car: Take the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290). Exit at Independence Boulevard (Exit 26A) and travel north. Turn right (east) onto Washington Boulevard. Turn left (north) onto Central Park Avenue (3600W). Travel two blocks north past the Garfield Park Golden Dome field house and the Lake Street public transit line. The Conservatory is on the west side of the street at 300 N. Central Park Ave.

By train: Take the Green Line to the “Conservatory” exit.