It is vital that government continues reassessing how it handles juvenile justice, Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) said Thursday in response to two high-profile developments on that front this week.

President Obama on Monday announced plans to reform the federal prison system by banning solitary confinement for juvenile inmates and expanding mental health treatment for them. Illinois abandoned solitary confinement for juveniles last year.
In addition, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling this week found that a 2012 decree barring automatic life terms for young offenders also applies to past crimes.

The ruling reinforces a 2014 Illinois Supreme Court decision that mandatory life sentences for juveniles are unconstitutional.

In 2015, Harmon negotiated and sponsored legislation last year that became law giving Illinois judges more discretion when they hand down sentences for minors accused of serious crimes.

“If we really care about fairness and second chances, we must be willing to regularly re-evaluate sentencing guidelines and other criminal justice policies, especially with regard to young offenders,” Harmon said. “Whenever it is sensible, prudent and possible to give people a chance to redeem themselves and become good neighbors, we should seize those opportunities.”