New commission on violent crime meets

Posted on February 24, 2015

State Rep. Greg Harris is chairman of an Illinois House committee that's looking to prevent violent crime. (Photo courtesy www.ilga.gov)

By John Gregory/Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – Predicting which person will commit a violent crime tomorrow would be a good ability to have.

Absent that, State Rep. Greg Harris said from Columbine through Sandy Hook through today, there’s enough information to at least get some indicators.

“There are all kinds of commonalities which, if people were aware, if law enforcement were aware, if educators were aware, if families were aware, they could say, look, we’re seeing some of these things in our neighborhood or with our own son or daughter – and then, as they see them, how can they get help that's appropriate at the right time,” Harris said in announcing the first meeting of a new task force of state representatives.

The panel was announced by the House speaker at his inaugural address in January. The group held its first meeting Monday in Chicago.

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