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State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, said the NIBIN system is
widely used by local and state police.
“What we need is funding to go directly to those departments so
that they can maintain their machines or expand, get more
machines or to have some departments that are kind of in NIBIN
deserts get their own machines so that we can have better
interconnectivity in the state for solving crimes,” Hirschauer
told The Center Square.
Along with state Rep. John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, Hirschauer
cosponsored House Bills 5750 and 5751, filed by state Rep. Rita
Mayfield, D-Waukegan.
The legislation appropriates $4 million from the state’s general
revenue fund for Illinois State Police to partner with the
Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and provide grants for
NIBIN-supporting equipment.
Mayfield cited recent mass shootings, including two reported in
Chicago and one in East St. Louis over the last two months.
“NIBIN is critical to these investigations,” Mayfield said.
Hirschauer said the program is a valuable tool to connect the
dots between crime scenes.
“To me, enabling law enforcement to have the tools and
technology they need to solve crimes is a money saver, right? If
we are stopping the cycle of violence, we can put some of those
resources back into those underserved communities,” Hirschauer
said.
The Batavia Democrat said the program is important to people
across Illinois.
“Not just the city of Chicago, but our downstate police
departments really need resources and funding to serve their
communities as well,” Hirschauer said.
Hirschauer said she was not aware of any opposition.
“In the cash-strapped south suburbs, lives depend on your
legislation, and we hope it passes immediately,” Harvey Police
Chief Dale Mitchell said.
The Illinois state budget for fiscal year 2027 is $55.9 billion.
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