Ill. commission would probe racial discrimination


SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois moved one step closer to creating a commission investigating racial discrimination in law enforcement when a Senate committee this week approved creation of a task force.

The call for the commission stems from a report that showed blacks are disproportionately incarcerated for low-level, non-violent drug crimes than whites. The commission would collect and analyze ethnic and racial arrest data to determine the prevalence of discrimination in crime sentencing.

The task force would be established pending Senate and House votes.

Creating the commission is the first part of a list of recommendations resulting from the initial study. The study also suggests increased funding for alternatives beyond incarceration and reducing barriers to employment for those with criminal records.

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