Release Date 07-28-2010
SPRINGFIELD, IL - On Tuesday, legislation sponsored
by state
Rep.
Karen Yarbrough (D-Maywood) which makes prisons safer by
clearly defining strong penalties for employees who
smuggle contraband into state correctional institutions,
was signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn.
“When
cutting instruments and other tools are smuggled into
our prisons, the chances that prison guards, other
prison employees and inmates will be injured or killed
increase dramatically,” Yarbrough said. “This new law
will help prevent this kind of violence by deterring
prison employees from bringing contraband into Illinois’
prisons and will also punish individuals who have chosen
to ignore these rules and smuggle contraband into
prisons anyway.”
Yarbrough’s House Bill 5525 imposes the punishment of a
Class 1 felony for an employee of a penal institution to
bring, attempt to bring, or possess a tool to defeat
security mechanisms or a cutting tool into a prison. In
addition, this new law provides for a Class X felony
(minimum of 10 years in prison) for any employee who
delivers electronic contraband such as cell phones, cell
phone batteries, pagers, computers and video recorders
in a penal institution. Prior to this measure taking
effect, state law did not provide special penalties when
those bringing in this contraband are prison employees.
“This
new law will also crack-down on employees who bring in
banned electronic devices such as cell phones that help
inmate direct and otherwise engage in criminal
activities outside prison walls,” Yarbrough added.
“When employees bring these types of contraband into a
prison, they are aiding and abetting outside criminal
activity, and they must be punished accordingly.”
Yarbrough’s legislation, an initiative in partnership
with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, is
supported by the Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and
the Cook County Sheriff’s Association.
House Bill 5525 is effective immediately.
For
more information, contact Yarbrough’s office at (708)
615-1747.
