Meg Loughran Cappel’s bill to give additional consideration for mothers being sentenced was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker last week.
Loughran Cappel, D-Shorewood, pushed for the bill to discourage disruption of families caused by a parent’s incarceration, according to a news release. The new law creates a weighing factor for courts to consider when determining the imprisonment time of pregnant women or women with young children.
“Making the choice to deprive a child of a mother’s love and support because of one mistake is irresponsible,” Loughran Cappel said in a statement. “Compassion ought to be a guiding light when making decisions that can alter a child’s entire life.”
Loughran Cappel said her bill came about after discussions with the Senate Women’s Caucus and Illinois First Lady MK Pritzker.