The Cemetery Oversight Task Force in Illinois has issued it’s report to the Governor of the State of Illinois Patrick Quinn. To sum up the report, Cemetery Scandal is widespread across the State of Illinois and Legislative and regulatory action should be immediately taken.
llinois Cemetery report found Cemetery State Wide Problem
From the New York Times:
“A state task force set up to investigate the burial industry in the wake of widespread grave desecration at a cemetery outside Chicago concluded that abuse was probably widespread across the state due to a near-complete lack of regulation, the group told Gov. Patrick J. Quinn in a report.”
Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy
This all was brought on by the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal near Chicago where nearly three hundred graves were desecrated and bones piled up around the cemetery.
The ICCFA is supporting Cemetery Reform Because of the horrific Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal
The International Cemetery Crematory Funeral Association (ICCFA) is open to reform of the Death Care Industry. Death care is what happens from the funeral home to the cemetery. The Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal in the Chicago Area has stirred up calls for cemetery reform.
At Burr Oak in cemetery near Alsip Illinois 300 graves were desecrated. 2 sections of the Cemetery are a crime scene. Bones were discarded and piled up. The scope and nature of the Burr Oak Crime is an unspeakable horror.
Reform is not the total answer. More laws are needed. Regulation is needed.Enforcement This is true both on the Funeral side and the cemetery side of the business of death. Laws enforced do not always prevent crime.
Bob Fells, the general counsel for the Virginia-based International Cemetery, Crematory, and Funeral Association said his organization is open to beefing up regulation to prevent atrocities like the one at Burr Oak. “This is so essential to cemetery operation, the integrity of the gravesite,” said Fells, who cautioned that stronger legislation still won’t be able to stop criminal activity. “If somebody wants to walk into a bank and rob it, you probably aren’t going to be able to stop them. It’s a similar thing with illegal disinterment,” said Wells.
EDUCATION NEEDED
If folks are educated about what is involved in the Funeral and Cemetery Process in death care there will be less crime. They will not be ripped off when there is good laws enforcement and EDUCATION about the Funeral and Cemetery Process.
Funeral Industry |Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy.
Education must start Funeral Process and how everything ties together. The best place is to do that is here
The Federal Trade Commission generally does not regulate cemeteries, but has pledged it's support in achieving cemetery reform.
The Federal Trade Commission testified at the at the US House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer protection hearing into the Burr Oak Cemetery grave tragedy.
At the Burr Oak cemetery up to 300 graves were desecrated Four people have been arrested and the Cook County Sheriff has it closed off as a crime scene.
The Federal Trade Commission . The FTC authorized testimony before the House Panel. Bobby Rush the Congressman whose District contains the the Burr Oak cemetery said after the hearing he was returning to Washington to author Cemetery Reform.
The Rev Jesse Jackson, Joshua Slocum of the FCA (Funeral Consumers Alliance), a lawyer for the ICFA(Illinois Cemetery and Funeral Association), and the Deputy Director of the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) all gave testimony.
Statements were made for and against Cemetery Reform.
The FTC Funeral Rule generally does not apply to cemeteries unless the cemetery is managed by a Funeral Home.
“The Federal Trade Commission today told the U.S. House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection of the Committee on Energy and Commerce that the FTC will work with the Subcommittee and others to explore ways to deploy the FTC’s experience and resources in connection with the recent grievous events at the historic Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois, and in addressing consumer protection concerns regarding cemeteries.
The testimony, presented by Charles Harwood, Deputy Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, commended Subcommittee Chairman Bobby L. Rush for holding the field hearing in Chicago, Illinois, on oversight of cemeteries and other funeral services.”
The Burr Oak Cemetery has been declared an extended Crime Scene.
The Burr Oak Cemetery site in Alsip, IL has been declared a crime scene. More graves have been discovered desecrated The Cook County Sheriff has declared the cemetery a growing crime scene. Friday Nite the cemetery was closed.
Over 300 grave have been dug up and the bones discarded.
“Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart declared all of Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip a crime scene Friday night after more remains and altered grave sites were found in a second part of the cemetery.”
Dan Hynes the Comptroller of the State of Illinois stated that the company involved was responbsible for the rogue employee actions
“Meanwhile, Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes said Friday he has begun license-revocation proceedings against Perpetua Holdings Inc., the owner of the cemetery.”
“Even though it was rogue employees who were committing these atrocities, it is [Perpetua’s] cemetery, and they are ultimately responsible, and they have abused the right to hold these licenses,”
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