Convictions Without Justice 8/8/2009 By: Denise Rotheimer

Taking a bite out of crime  Requires putting teeth in legislation!

National Association of Attorney’s General April 15, 2004 “Despite the best intentions of our laws, too often crime victims are still denied basic rights to fair treatment and due process that should be the birthright of every citizen who seeks justice through our courts. We are convinced that statutory protections are not enough…” -Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan

Crime Victims’ Rights Act Provides crime victims 10 basic rights that are unenforceable. Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act Denies crimes victims their Constitutional right to remedy and justice.

Victim Impact Statement  Request needs to be made in writing. “According to an American Bar Association study, 70 percent of judges find information contained in Victim Impact Statements useful in determining appropriate sentences and fair restitution orders.”

For three months, Lake County News-Sun reporters analyzed the outcomes of child sex offender cases among the county's 5,200 prosecuted felonies in Of the 244 felony child sex offender cases which could have produced a maximum of 4,000 years in prison, the average sentence given a child sex offender in Lake County is just over two years.

Call to Action We must require legislators to impose enforcement mechanisms in the laws our general assembly enacts to protect Illinois’ most vulnerable residents: crime victims. 9 out of 10 registered sex offenders in Lake County are child sex offenders. According to the Bureau of Justice statistics sex offenders are four times more likely to re- offend than any other felon. The only measure of justice parents have to protect their children is to rely on the law. Justice is the law. In order to ensure justice on behalf of our children we must know the laws and how they can work against us.

Class of Felony Convictions Class X: 6 – 30 years at 85% sentencing Class 1: 4 – 15 years at 85% sentencing Class 2: 3 – 7 years at 50% sentencing Class 3: 2 – 5 years at 50% sentencing Class 4: 1 – 3 years at 50% sentencing

Illinois Criminal Code of 1961 Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault Criminal Sexual Assault Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse Criminal Sexual Abuse

Cordero Flowers  Convicted of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault/Attempt  Class 1 Felony  Sentenced to 48 months probation; 36 months periodic imprisonment  Victim age 6

Ryan Reid  Convicted on 2 counts of Criminal Sexual Assault and three counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse.  Class 1 Felony  Sentenced to 10 years for each count of Criminal Sexual Assault (two victims) (two victims)  Class 2 Felony  Sentenced to 2 years for each count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse (three victims) (three victims)

Jose E. Valenzuela  Convicted of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse  Class 2 Felony  3 year prison term at 50%  Victim age 10

Child Pornography Cases  Wednesday, July 29, 2009 Press Release  AURORA MAN SENTENCED ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CONVICTION Chicago – Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced that a DuPage County judge Tuesday sentenced an Aurora man to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). The sentencing follows the guilty plea last month of Steven V. Pounders, 50, on the charge of attempt to disseminate child pornography, a Class 2 felony. “This conviction demonstrates the success of collaborative efforts through which my office teams with police and prosecutors across Illinois to protect children from sexual exploitation,” Madigan said.

Child Pornography Cases continued A former teacher at Antioch Grade School has been sentenced to 3½ years in prison for possession of child pornography. By Tony Gordon | Daily Herald Staff - 7/15/2009

Child Pornography Cases continued Former Green Oaks mayor Tom Adams will spend 30 days in jail as part of his sentence for a child pornography conviction, a judge (Patricia Piper-Golden) ordered Monday. In her remarks, Piper-Golden called the images found on Adams' computer "horrific." By Russell Lissau | Daily Herald Staff – 6/29/2009

Jasmine’s Law Increases minimum sentencing. Adds an additional 11 years for contributing alcohol to minors with the intent to commit a sex crime. Requires victims receive a sign-off sheet to verify they received their rights.