April 20, 2016

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, and local residents spoke before the Illinois House Judiciary – Criminal Committee Monday in support of Kifowit’s measure to enhance penalties on offenders who commit hate crimes and allow prosecutors more flexibility in being able to charge hate crimes. This legislation is in response to growing concerns within the minority communities of being targeted because of race and religion.

“Individuals fearing their safety because of their religious or cultural beliefs is un-American,” Kifowit said. “My legislation sends a loud message to those who would harm their fellow citizens that this behavior has no place in our society.”

Kifowit’s House Bill 6076 would require criminals convicted of committing hate crimes to serve more time in jail. Under current law, those convicted of hate crimes serve their sentences concurrently, which allows them to serve time for all of their crimes at once. Kifowit’s proposal would also require community service and sensitivity training as a condition of parole.

Kifowit was joined Monday by attorneys Brian and Sadia Covert of Naperville, who have been working with the Islamic Center of Naperville and the Sikh community to strengthen hate crime laws in Illinois. This effort comes in light of the beating last year of Inderjit Singh Mukker, a 53-year-old Sikh from Darien. Prosecutors did not initially include hate crime charges against Mr. Mukker’s assailant, which sparked backlash from community members. In response, Robert Berlin – the DuPage County State’s Attorney – added hate crime charges in addition to other charges related to the incident.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/community/chi-ugc-article-kifowit-works-to-strengthen-penalties-against-2016-04-21-story.html#ifrndnloc