Bill proposing change from ‘offender’ to ‘justice impacted individual’ advances to governor’s desk

CHICAGO — State lawmakers have passed a bill that, if signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker, will change the term “offender” in state law to “justice impacted individual.”

The proposed change blew up on social media, with some people mistakenly thinking that people who commit crimes would get a rebranding. Instead, it would only apply to participants in one program meant to rehabilitate people and keep them out of prison.

The specific proposed law, House Bill 4409, would remove the term “offender” and replace it with “justice impacted individual” for men and women in the state’s “Adult Redeploy Illinois” program, commonly referred to as A.R.I.

A.R.I. is an initiative that aims to keep some offenders from going to prison by connecting them to rehabilitation programs. Before the senate vote Tuesday, Republicans said the language change portrayed a lack of empathy for victims and a lack of concern for public safety.

“Change this, change that, the only thing you don’t want to change is the behavior of criminals,” said state senator Steve McClure (R-Springfield). “And guess who is paying for that right now? Victims all across the state. I urge a no vote.”

House Bill 4409 passed by a 34-20 vote Tuesday, it is unclear when or if the bill will hit Pritzker’s desk.

“This is good public safety policy. I know we’re getting hung up on a term, but I don’t want to lose sight that we are adding the department of corrections to this bill,” said state senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago). “We’re trying to make sure that everybody has involvement in this program.”

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After the Illinois State House of Representatives passed the bill 68-40 back in April, state representative Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) said people shouldn’t be defined by their worst day.

“So, carrying a label of offender for life does not seem appropriate for a system in which we intend to return people to full participation in society,” Cassidy said.

Back in the senate, those opposed to the measure said the change would incur unnecessary costs.

“Each time we make that change, each agency has to make that change on every one of their documents,” said state senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro). “Right now in the department of corrections, there are multiple changes that have been made and it’s costing thousands of thousands of dollars just to do a name change.”

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