Stiffer Punishments Coming for Crimes Against Postal Workers

Law set to take effect January 31, 2013

People convicted of crimes against postal workers may have to keep their prison addresses longer than before under a new law signed by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.

Quinn signed Senate Bill 3665 at the Illinois State Association of Letter Carriers convention in Rockford Friday.

The law allows convictions of crimes such as battery, assault, and robbery against mail carriers to be considered reasons "in favor of imposing a term of imprisonment or may be considered by the court as reasons to impose a more severe sentence."

The new law makes postal workers' jobs safer, Quinn said.

"The hard-working men and women of the United States Postal Service deserve our gratitude," he said. "This law will help make sure that they are able to continue doing their jobs safely."

The law, set to take effect January 1, 2013, came as an initiative of the National Association of Letter Carriers to ensure postal workers take appropriate steps if a crime is committed against them, according to the governor's office.

Mail carriers already have protection under federal law, but this law allows state courts to consider postal service employment in their proceedings, the governor's office said.

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