New Travel Restrictions for Suspects of Violent Crimes

 Posted on August 20, 2013 in Violent Crime

In 2012, a Chicago Tribune investigation uncovered a high number of criminal suspects flee the state of Illinois to avoid sentencing. It is a problem that existed across all levels of law enforcement.

The Tribune found that police departments have allowed over 60 fugitives escape justice when they ran to Mexico. When they submit extradition paperwork it often overwhelms the county officials who need to process these requests. Of the fugitives in Mexico, at the time of their investigation, officials were only seeking the deportation of 12 suspects.

There is also an issue with the judges who held bond hearings. They set low bonds for suspects who were being charged with crimes such as rape and murder. They also were not required to confiscate passports from suspects with dual citizenship. But now Illinois lawmakers have passed a law to limit these avenues for suspects to escape justice.

Now judges are required to restrict the travel or seize the passport of suspects accused of first degree murder and other violent crimes. “This closes a huge loophole that was brought to my attention by the Chicago Tribune,” said one of the law’s sponsors, state Senator Ira Silverstein, a Democrat from Chicago.

Another loophole was closed by lawmakers this August. There was an exemption in Illinois which allowed family members to aid and harbor suspects without being charged with a crime. This allowed families to provide a suspect with money, drive them to the airport and even keep information from the authorities. Now, family members found to have aided or abetted suspects of crimes can be charged with a felony.

With these new laws in place, it puts a greater importance on the legal advice of an attorney with a background in representing suspects of violent crimes. Don’t play with your fate by trying to run from your charges. Contact an experienced criminal defense attorney in Cook county today.