Two Illinois Department of Children and Family Services investigators are prompting new legislation that will increase the penalties for attacking a worker. A similar law already applies to first responders such as police officers, firefighters, and others. State Senator Doris Turner says that something needs to be done after the murders of Deidre Silas and Pamela Knight a few years ago.
Pamela Knight was beaten in 2017 and Deidre Silas was stabbed to death last week while on the job. The bill will raise the penalties for attacking a DCFS Worker from a Class 3 felony to a Class 1 felony.
Governor JB Pritzker has said he would support that measure. A Class 3 felony is punishable by 2-5 years in prison and a Class 1 felony is punishable by 4-15 years in prison. Right now the most you can get for attacking a DCFS worker is aggravated battery. State Republicans fired back at the move asking why it took a tragedy for movement to take place on this bill.
