Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin Announces Over $5 Million in Additional Department of Labor Grants for Illinois Youth
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the U.S. Department of Labor has awarded five grants totaling in $5,127,556 to YouthBuild organizations throughout Illinois. YouthBuild assists out-of-school youth in obtaining their diplomas or GEDs while providing occupational training in the construction industry. Participants in the program include individuals who have been in the juvenile justice system, youth aging out of foster care, high school dropouts and … Continue Reading
August 16, 2012
Durbin Announces More Than $94,000 in DOJ Funding for Ford County Judiciary Program
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded Ford County a grant of $94,598 to support efforts to provide representation for potentially wrongly convicted defendants and offer better services through drug treatment courts. This funding was made available through the DOJ's Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program, which is designed to develop and implement drug treatment courts for jurisdictions to incorporate … Continue Reading
August 13, 2012
Durbin Announces Another Bipartisan Screening Committee for Federal Judges in the Northern District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today announced the formation of a bipartisan screening committee to assist in selecting Federal District Court Judges for the Northern District of Illinois. There are currently three vacant judgeships in the Northern District, and the immediate task of the screening committee is to review applications and make recommendations to Durbin for filling current and future vacancies. The screening committee will be comprised of 13 distinguished … Continue Reading
August 02, 2012
Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Durkin Nomination for Illinois Northern District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee has unanimously approved the nomination of Thomas Durkin to fill a pending vacancy on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. His nomination will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate. "I am pleased the Judiciary Committee has approved this consensus, bipartisan nominee," said Durbin. "Tom Durkin has the ability, experience and integrity … Continue Reading
July 31, 2012
Durbin Announces $51,000 in DOJ Funding to Enhance Law Enforcement Capabilities in Moline
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $51,013 in Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants to support law enforcement officers in Moline, Illinois. This funding will be used to support police officers' salaries, purchase tasers and upgrade court security equipment and access. "Our nation's law enforcement officers are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these … Continue Reading
July 31, 2012
Durbin and BOP Director Discuss Importance of Thomson Prison to Relieve Overcrowding and Create 1,100 New Jobs in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, Charles Samuels, to discuss the Obama Administration's continued commitment to acquiring Thomson Correctional Center and opening it as a maximum-security federal prison - a move that would alleviate overcrowding in the federal prison system and create more than 1,100 jobs in Northwest Illinois. Durbin will speak with Illinois Governor Pat Quinn later today about moving forward with … Continue Reading
July 27, 2012
Durbin to Wolf: End Opposition to 1,100 New Jobs in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called for Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA) to end his opposition to opening Thomson Correctional Center as a maximum-security federal prison - a move that would create more than 1,100 jobs in Northwest Illinois. Durbin's call comes just hours after Attorney General Eric Holder sent to Congress a new request to reprogram already appropriated funding within the Department of Justice that can be used to acquire and activate Thomson … Continue Reading
July 19, 2012
Durbin and Kirk Name Screening Committee for Next US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and Announce Application Process
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced the members of their six person screening committee that will aid them in the search for the next US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The committee will be co-chaired by the Honorable David Coar, former U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois and the Honorable Mark Filip, former Deputy Attorney General in the United States Department of Justice. The other … Continue Reading
July 11, 2012
Durbin: Time for Congressmen to End Excuses and Increase Pressure on the Only Person Holding Up Sale of Thomson
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - While calling on the Obama Administration to send a new reprogramming request to Congress for the acquisition and activation of the Thomson Correctional Center, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation should stop making excuses and start increasing pressure on Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA) - the only person standing in the way of the federal government's purchase of the prison. In a letter to Attorney General … Continue Reading
July 11, 2012
Durbin, Kirk: Illinois Judicial Nomination for Northern District Receives Senate Committee Hearing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) said that a hearing was held today in the Senate Judiciary Committee on the nomination of Thomas Durkin to fill a pending vacancy on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. His nomination is expected to receive a vote in the committee within the next few weeks. If approved, his nomination will receive a vote by the full Senate. "Tom Durkin has the ability, experience and integrity to serve … Continue Reading
July 10, 2012
Durbin Announces $15,195 in DOJ Funding to Enhance Law Enforcement Capabilities in Carbondale
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $15,195 in Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants to support law enforcement officers in Carbondale, Illinois. "Our nation's law enforcement officers are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's way, we must ensure that they are equipped with the best tools possible to do … Continue Reading
June 25, 2012
Durbin Outlines Process to Nominate Next U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the search process that he and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) have agreed to follow for the selection of the next U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. "Earlier today, I met with outgoing U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. I thanked him for his service and the integrity he brought to the job and discussed with him the process Senator Kirk and I have established to select his replacement," Durbin said. … Continue Reading
June 19, 2012
Durbin Chairs First-Ever Congressional Hearing on Solitary Confinement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) chaired a hearing today on the issue of solitary confinement in the nation's prisons, jails and detention centers. The hearing, held before the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, focused on the human rights, fiscal and public safety consequences of solitary confinement. "The United States holds more prisoners in solitary confinement than any other democratic nation in … Continue Reading
June 15, 2012
Durbin Statement on DREAM Act and Administrative Action to Help Young Immigrants
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that the Obama Administration would halt the deportations of immigrant students who could earn citizenship under Durbin's DREAM Act. "The Obama Administration's decision to extend temporary legal status to DREAM Act students is an historic humanitarian moment. This action will give these young immigrants their chance to come out of the … Continue Reading
June 12, 2012
Durbin: Attorney General Again Confirms Obama Administration Will Never Seek to Transfer Guantanamo Bay Detainees to Thomson
[WASHINGTON, DC] - In response to questions from U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder again confirmed that the Obama Administration will never seek to transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to Thomson Correctional Center. Durbin is currently working with the State of Illinois and the Obama Administration to reprogram already appropriated funding within the Department of Justice (DOJ) that can be used to purchase the … Continue Reading
June 11, 2012
Durbin to Chair Hearing on Solitary Confinement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, announced today that he would hold the first-ever congressional hearing on the issue of solitary confinement at 10:00am ET on Tuesday, June 19. The hearing will focus on the human rights, fiscal and public safety consequences of solitary confinement in U.S. prisons, jails, and detention centers. During the last several decades, … Continue Reading
May 23, 2012
Durbin Statement on the Resignation of U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after Patrick Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, announced his resignation: "When I first interviewed Patrick Fitzgerald for U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, he gave me his word that he would not show any political favoritism in his professional duties. He kept his word." "His aggressive prosecution of wrongdoing - including politicians in both … Continue Reading
May 21, 2012
Durbin, Kirk: White House Nominates Durkin to Fill Federal Judgeship in Northern District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced that President Obama has nominated Thomas Durkin to fill a pending vacancy on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. "Thomas Durkin is an outstanding candidate for a federal judgeship in the Northern District and I am pleased that President Obama has nominated him today. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated strong leadership in his community and a solid commitment to … Continue Reading
May 14, 2012
Senate Confirms Tharp to Fill Federal Judgeship in Northern District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has confirmed John "Jay" Tharp for a federal judgeship in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. The Senate approved Tharp by a vote of 86-1. Senators Kirk and Durbin have worked closely together since early 2011 to fill the two judicial vacancies in the Northern District of Illinois. Under Senate tradition for Illinois, the senator from the party not in control … Continue Reading
May 09, 2012
Durbin Calls on Members of Illinois Senate to Support Bill to Improve Security in East St. Louis
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on members of the Illinois Senate to support legislation introduced by Illinois State Senate Majority Leader James Clayborne that would strengthen local policing efforts and help improve the safety and security of East St. Louis and three nearby Metro East communities. Durbin added that, as a member of Congress, it is extremely rare for him to advocate for the passage of state legislation - a move he does not take lightly. … Continue Reading