Manley Supports Strengthening Law to Hold Drug Dealers Accountable

JOLIET, Ill. – Continuing her efforts to address the ongoing heroin epidemic, state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, recently supported legislation allowing drug out-of-state drug dealers to be prosecuted when someone from Illinois dies from the drugs.

“People go to great lengths to acquire drugs and it doesn’t matter to them where the drug dealer lives as long as they are able to get what the drugs they are looking for,” Manley said. “However, due to a loophole in state law, local officials cannot prosecute drug dealers who live out of state for selling controlled substances that result in the death of someone in Illinois. This makes it that much harder to our law enforcement officials to stop illegal drugs from entering our community.”

Currently, suspected drug dealers can be charged with drug induced homicide if they manufacture or deliver a controlled substance that results in another person’s death. However, this law does not apply to any individual who lives out-of-state. Manley recently supported Senate Bill 639, which expands the offense of drug-induced homicide to include delivery of controlled substances in another state which resulted in the death that occurred in Illinois.

“Many Illinois residents live within a short drive of another state,” Manley said. “By closing this loophole we give law enforcement officials a better chance of putting someone who deals deadly drugs behind bars. This is another important tool to have as we continue to fight the growing heroin epidemic in Will County and across the state.”

For more information on Representative Manley’s upcoming events, please contact her constituent service office at RepManley@gmail.com or 815-725-2741.