Rauner appoints 28 to new criminal justice reform commission

Gov. Bruce Rauner has named 28 people to a new commission that will look at criminal justice and sentencing reform in Illinois.

The Republican governor announced his appointments on Tuesday. They include experts from nonprofits, academia and law enforcement as well as lawmakers.

The new Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform will be led by state Public Safety Director Rodger Heaton.

Rauner says the panel will look for ways to reduce the rate of imprisonment by analyzing the entire criminal justice system, from the time someone is arrested to their release and re-entry into the community.

He says the current system is overcrowded, costly and ineffective, with too many people returning to prison. He says the state needs new ways to help ex-convicts become productive members of society.