Cabello opposes bill allowing mental health defense for aggravated battery of an officer
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois House of Representatives Assistant Minority Leader John Cabello is speaking out against a bill that would allow a person who attacks a police officer to claim mental health as a defense.
The House hopes to amend the Criminal Code of 2012. The proposal would allow people to say they were having a mental health episode as a defense for aggravated battery of an officer.
The defense would be used if an officer responded to an incident in which the officer interacted with a person whom an officer could believe was having a mental health episode and the person has a documented mental illness and acted abruptly.
Cabello said the bill undermines officers and supports criminals.
'Time and time again, we see Democrats claim they support law enforcement, while their policies tell a different story,' said Rep. Cabello. 'Instead of giving police the tools they need to fight crime, they push laws that make their jobs harder and put criminals first.'
Cabello explained he feels using mental health as a defense for violent behavior undermines mental health issues as a whole.
'Let me be clear: Excusing bad and violent behavior under the guise of mental health is totally inappropriate,' said Cabello. 'This idea puts officers at greater risk, dismisses the seriousness of mental health, and makes law enforcement's job even tougher'
Representatives Kelly Cassidy and Marcus Evans Jr. were added as co-sponsors to the bill on March 4th.
Representative Lisa Davis proposed the bill on February 7th.
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