REPORTING PRISONER DEATHS

Creates the Reporting of Deaths in Custody Act. Provides that in any case in which a person dies while in the custody of: (1) any law enforcement agency, (2) a local or State correctional facility in the State, or (3) a peace officer or as a result of the peace officer's use of force, the law enforcement agency shall investigate and report the death in writing to the Attorney General, no later than 30 days after the date on which the person in custody or incarcerated died. Provides information that must be contained in the report. Provides that the report shall be a public record under the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that the Attorney General shall issue a public annual report tabulating and evaluating trends and information on deaths in custody. Provides that the family, next of kin, or any other person reasonably nominated by the decedent as an emergency contact shall be notified as soon as possible in a suitable manner giving an accurate factual account of the cause of death and circumstances surrounding the death in custody. Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and the Unified Code of Corrections concerning reports the Secretary of State, Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Department of Corrections shall make to the General Assembly. Provides that the Secretary of State, Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Department of Corrections shall publish the reports on their respective websites. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the report of deaths of persons in custody shall be submitted to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (rather than the Attorney General). Provides that the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority shall submit its annual report about deaths in custody to the Attorney General and the Governor as well as to the General Assembly. Provides that the Secretary of State shall submit his or her annual report concerning permanent identification cards issued to persons in custody of the Departments of Corrections and Juvenile Justice to the Attorney General and the Governor as well as to the General Assembly. Provides that the Departments of Corrections and Juvenile Justice shall submit their annual reports concerning the number of birth certificates, social security cards, and verification forms issued to persons within their custody within 30 days of their release from custody to the Attorney General and the Governor as well as to the General Assembly. Correctional Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Dept of Corrections) This bill will have no corrections population or fiscal impact on the Department.