Sheriff Sandage’s current policies in response to the novel coronavirus are not just irresponsible, they are outright dangerous to our entire community. The sheriff, like every resident, has one goal for at least the next two months, and that is to FLATTEN THE DAMN CURVE! Any action or decision by a government official that subverts that goal is reprehensible. It is the difference between a two month shelter in place order, or a five month shelter in place order. It’s the difference between a low death count and a high death count. It’s the difference between spending tens of thousands of tax dollars and tens of millions. It’s the difference between the jail housing a few dozen dangerous individuals, or a few dozen corpses. (see all)
If you agree, contact Sheriff Sandage right now. Call the McLean County Sheriff’s Office, the State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Chief Judge’s Office and ask that they decarcerate in the name of public health!
Sheriff Jon Sandage
(309) 888-5034
Sample script:
“Hi, my name is ______ and I live in _________. I’m calling to demand that Sheriff Sandage take steps to dramatically lower the number of people in jail in response to COVID-19. People sitting in jail on bail should not be risking their health and life simply because they cannot afford their money bond!
In addition, the Sheriff should improve access to phones, offer free video “visitation,” and make sanitation, hygiene and cleaning supplies available free of charge to anyone that remains incarcerated during the pandemic.”
State’s Attorney Don Knapp
(309) 888-5400
“Hi, my name is ______ and I live in _________. I’m calling to demand that McLean County State’s Attorney ,Don Knapp, take steps to dramatically lower the number of people in jail in response to COVID-19. He should instruct the prosecutors to use their discretionary authority to dismiss as many cases as possible, avoid imposing multiple charges for each indictment, and minimize the severity of recommended penalties. He should also instruct judges to give the least restrictive release conditions.”
Chief Judge Mark Fellheimer
309-888-5254
“Hi, my name is ____ and I live in _______. I’m calling to demand that Chief Judge Mark Fellheimer take steps to dramatically lower the number of people in jail in response to COVID-19. This means facilitating bond review hearings for people currently in jail and instructing judges not to admit new people to the jail. In addition, he should mandate ibonds on misdemeanors and probational felonies.”
If they tell you they can’t help, you can emphasize that:
“We are in a moment of crisis and need all county officials to do everything in their power to keep people safe. Incarcerated people are among the most vulnerable during this pandemic, we need you to do everything in your power to meet these demands, whether that’s your office taking unprecedented action or working with other county stakeholders.” (see all)
