Daywatch: Democrats walk a fine line on criminal justice legislation

Yahoo

12-05-2025

Good morning, Chicago.
Criminal justice reform has long been one of the most divisive issues between Democrats who control the Illinois General Assembly and the Republican minority.
But it's also created a split between progressive Democrats and party moderates, who walk a fine line as they seek to avoid being labeled as weak on crime during the next election cycle. The intra-party differences have been on display in the final weeks of the spring legislative session as lawmakers have considered bills aimed at giving a chance at freedom to people serving lengthy prison sentences for crimes committed when they were youths and dropping a requirement that inmates serve a significant percentage of their original sentence.
Last month, the divide left House Democrats unable to pass legislation that would have provided additional resentencing options for people convicted of committing crimes when they were under 21. It was a rare instance of a Democratic bill failing after being called to a floor vote.
Read the full story from the Tribune's Jeremy Gorner.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including: what Mayor Brandon Johnson has battled during two years in office, who's in the race to succeed US Rep. Jan Schakowsky and a White Sox fan quiz for Pope Leo XIV.
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