Petitioning for Clemency in Illinois: Has COVID-19 Changed the Calculus Regarding Sentence Commutations?
With COVID-19 infecting prison staff and inmates in large numbers across the U.S., governors are facing pressure to commute prison sentences – especially for those with underlying medical conditions, are elderly, close to their release date, or have served significant time in prison.
While it is true that COVID-19 has shown the spotlight on prisons, for those inmates not considered at high risk for contracting and dying from the virus, the factors normally used to weigh the merits of a petition seeking a sentence commutation probably haven’t changed much. The rest of this article will discuss what these factors are.
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Gov. Pritzker’s Recent Commutations: A Window to How
He Might Exercise His Clemency Powers in the Future?
Executive Clemency, Illinois - For those unfamiliar with the term, commutation is the act of releasing someone from prison before their projected parole date. During his first year in office, Gov. Pritzker granted three commutations. His recent actions suggest that the COVID-19 outbreak may have played a role. Across the U.S., governors have been urged to release prison inmates with underlying medical conditions, those close to their parole eligibility date or who would not pose a risk to the community.
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Why an Illinois FOID Card is No Guarantee You’ll Get a Concealed Carry Permit
If you are an Illinois FOID card holder and have applied for but been denied a Concealed Carry License (CCL), you are not alone. More people qualify for a FOID card than a CCL permit due to differing eligibility standards. The rules for who is eligible to obtain a FOID card in Illinois are relatively straightforward. Under Illinois law, those responsible for issuing CCL permits have been granted considerably more leeway in deciding who should receive a permit.
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How To Fairly Consider Job Applicants With Criminal Records
This article has been publish on Law360.com and re-posted here for your benefit. The original article can be located here:https://www.law360.com/articles/1252959
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Overcoming a FOID Card Denial Due to a Felony or Other Disqualifying Offense
Although it’s been four years since I first wrote about obtaining a FOID card as a convicted felon, I still find myself spending a lot of time explaining to Illinois residents that there’s only one way to qualify for a FOID card when you have a disqualifying conviction: seek reinstatement of your gun rights by petitioning for clemency from the governor.
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Illinoisans Beware: You Still Can’t Toke and Drive
For those who have taken full advantage of the fact cannabis is now legally available for purchase at your nearest dispensary, provided you are at least 21, a word of caution: you still can be arrested for possessing the drug. In order to avoid a charge of unlawful possession while driving or worse (e.g., DUI), cannabis must be “reasonably secured, [in a] sealed container and reasonably inaccessible while the vehicle is moving”. In other words, after purchasing cannabis from a dispensary, the drug should remain in the sealed container until you return home.
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