The Chicago Council of Lawyers proudly supports the recent passage and signing into law of The Sonya Massey Bill (SB1953) by Governor JB Pritzker, a landmark bipartisan legislation mandating full disclosure of personal background records for prospective police officers in Illinois.
This legislation arises from the tragic shooting last summer of Sonya Massey, an unarmed Black woman, inside her own home by Sean Grayson, a Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy who had responded to her call for help. The bill requires candidates for law enforcement positions to approve the release of comprehensive personal background information, including job performance reports and nonpublic settlement agreements.
The disturbing facts about Sean Grayson’s background, which only surfaced after the shooting, highlight the urgent need for transparency in police hiring practices. Grayson was kicked out of the Army following the first of two drunken driving convictions—both involving a weapon in his car—yet multiple law enforcement agencies still handed him a badge. Before his policing career, which included six jobs in four years, Grayson’s repeated DUI convictions and erratic employment history should have raised immediate red flags.
Law enforcement experts agree that these convictions and his prior record should have disqualified him from being hired by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department in May 2023. The failure to thoroughly vet Grayson represents a catastrophic breakdown in the system designed to protect the public.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers recognizes this law as the first critical step toward accountability and justice for Sonya Massey and the broader community. We commend Governor Pritzker and the Illinois legislature for enacting this essential legislation, which demands transparency and accountability from those entrusted with public safety.
By Felix Mitchell, Malcolm Rich Future Justice Fellow at Chicago Appleseed and Future Justice Lawyers of Chicago Program Coordinator.