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<p class="MsoNormal">Dear friends,<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><b>ONCE AGAIN WE NEED YOUR HELP!</b> We are</span> writing to request witness slips in support of <b>HB 1614 (Slaughter)</b>, the bill to increase the felony threshold for retail theft. The bill will be called for a vote
<b>tomorrow afternoon, Tuesday March 5, at 4:00pm in the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee</b>. The opposition has a head start on us, so it\u2019s important that we get as many folks as possible to show their support! Please scroll down to find a link where you
can complete a slip in just a minute or two.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Communities United and ACLU-IL are partnering on this important measure to reform sentences for low-level property crimes in order to reduce the number of people sent to prison and/or burdened with felony records\u2014practices that only harm
communities and create barriers which make recidivism more likely. A fact sheet is attached.
<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We would be most grateful if you could take a moment to file a slip, and pass this message along to anyone else in your network who might be inclined to do the same. Thank you!<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">HB1614: <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:47.25pt">
<u></u><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u></u><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">WHAT THE BILL DOES:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> Sets the felony threshold at $2,000 for retail theft and theft
from $300 and $500 respectively.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<u></u><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u></u><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">WHY HB1614 MATTERS:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> As we know, keeping the value of an item so low to become
a felony, is a vehicle to keep criminalizing poverty, mental disabilities, and substance abuse addiction and another law were the punishment just doesn't fit the offense. In addition, Illinois has not adjusted this amount to inflation like many other states
have.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">To file a witness slip:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">1. Go to this link:
<a href="http://my.ilga.gov/WitnessSlip/Create/116145?committeeHearingId=16603&LegislationId=116145&LegislationDocumentId=147263&GridCurrentCommittees-page=4" target="_blank">
http://my.ilga.gov/WitnessSlip/Create/116145?committeeHearingId=16603&LegislationId=116145&LegislationDocumentId=147263&GridCurrentCommittees-page=4</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">2. Fill out the form with your information. If you do not represent a firm or organization, please write 'self'<span class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">.</span><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">3. For proposition, please click \u201cPROPONENT"<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">4. <span class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"></span>For testimony - if you are just filing a slip, choose "record of appearance only<span class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">.</span>"<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">5. To submit the created slip, click the button "create slip"<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Thank you!!</b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Benjamin G. Ruddell<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Director of Criminal Justice Policy<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Pronouns: he/him/his</span> <u></u>
<u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">ACLU of Illinois<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Office: (312) 201-9740 ext. 328<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cell: (773) 750-6459<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">150 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 600<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chicago, IL 60601<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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