Criminal Justice

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. In the provision concerning parole review of persons under the age of 21 at the time of the commission of an offense, provides that any date after serving the minimum term of years to become eligible for parole review or up to 3 years prior to becoming eligible for parole review, the eligible person may file his or her petition for parole review with the Prisoner Review Board. Provides that within 30 days of receipt of this petition, the Prisoner Review Board shall determine whether the petition is appropriately filed, and if so, shall set a date for parole review 3 years from receipt of the petition or the date the person is eligible for parole review, whichever date is sooner, and notify the Department of Corrections within 10 business days. Provides that in no such circumstance shall the hearing be scheduled sooner than one year from the date of the determination that the petition is appropriately filed.

Amends the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act. Authorizes the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority to: (1) use the services of, and enter into necessary agreements with, outside entities for the purpose of evaluating grant applications and for the purpose of administering or monitoring compliance with grant agreements; (2) make grants to community-based organizations, local government agencies, non-profit organizations, or other eligible entities for specified criminal justice and public safety programs; and (3) adopt rules necessary to carry out the Authority's responsibilities under the Act. Effective immediately.

Declares July 3, 2025 and July 3, 2026 as Illinois Citizens Reentry Day in the State of Illinois in recognition of Congressman Danny K. Davis' work in helping to provide ex-offenders with a second chance and opportunity to reenter society as productive citizens and to encourage continuing support of such citizens as they reenter their communities.

Declares April 2025 as Second Chance Month. Encourages leaders in both the public and private sectors to adopt policies that remove unnecessary barriers to employment and reintegration for individuals with criminal records.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Exempts images from cameras under the Expressway Camera Act and all automated license plate reader (ALPR) information used and collected by the Illinois State Police from inspection and copying. Amends the Expressway Camera Act. Provides that, as used in the Act, "forcible felony" means trafficking in persons and involuntary servitude (in addition to other specified offenses). Includes the counties of Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside in the program to increase cameras along expressways and the State highway system. Provides that images from the cameras, including, but not limited to, images of license plates collected by state-operated cameras and cameras operated by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, may be used by any law enforcement agency conducting an active law enforcement investigation. Removes provision allowing images from the cameras to be used by any law enforcement agency conducting an active law enforcement investigation. Provides that all images from the cameras that are exported through a law enforcement database shall be deleted from that law enforcement database within 120 days, unless the images are relevant to an ongoing investigation or pending criminal trial. Provides that any forcible felony, gunrunning, or firearms trafficking offense, as specified, respectively, committed on an expressway monitored by a camera system funded by money from the Road Fund or money from the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and investigated by officers of the Illinois State Police may be prosecuted by the Attorney General or the State's Attorney where the offense was committed. Provides that the Act supersedes provisions in the Toll Highway Act regarding the confidentiality of personally identifiable information obtained through electronic toll collection systems. Provides that the Act is repealed on July 1, 2028 (rather than July 1, 2025). Effective immediately.

Amends the Judges Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Specifies that a person who serves as a full-time member of the Prisoner Review Board does not violate the Code's return-to-work provisions on the basis of service on the Prisoner Review Board. Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that persons who have final, plenary, or non-emergency protective orders granted against the petitioner or parole candidate may submit victim statements. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board shall publish on its official website, and provide to registered victims, procedural information on how to submit victim statements. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board may contain members who have experience in advocacy for victims of crime and their families, advocacy for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, or intimate partner violence. Provides that at least 3 members of the Board (currently, 6) must have at least 3 years experience in the field of juvenile matters. Provides that a total of 7 members must have at least 5 years' experience as a law enforcement officer, parole officer, prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, or judge. Contains provisions concerning training for members and commissioners of the Prisoner Review Board. Makes changes concerning factors to be considered by the Board in deciding whether to grant or deny parole. Provides that, prior to entering an order discharging a person from parole or mandatory supervised release, the Prisoner Review Board shall provide notice and a 30-day opportunity to comment to any registered victim. Requires the Department of Corrections to prepare a report describing whether the subject has completed the mandatory conditions of parole or mandatory supervised release. Contains provisions concerning LEADS reports. Provides that all petitioners for clemency and medical release and all candidates for parole appearing before the Prisoner Review Board shall be afforded the opportunity to appear in person or via interactive video teleconference. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Removes a provision specifically excluding academic programs for incarcerated students from the definition of "institution of higher learning", "qualified institution", and "institution". In provisions concerning the AIM HIGH Grant Program, removes the grant eligibility requirement that an applicant not be incarcerated.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that, upon the release of a committed person on parole, mandatory supervised release, final discharge, or pardon, the Department of Corrections shall provide the person with resources to acclimate the person to life outside the correctional institution or facility, including access to social workers, clinical psychologists, and other counselors. Provides that the counselors shall assist the person in obtaining housing, employment, education, healthcare, State identification, and other resources that the counselors deem necessary to assist in the person's adjustment to society and the prevention of recidivism. Provides that the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Corrections, shall provide assistance to the person to achieve the goals of this provision without interference from the person's assigned parole officer.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that a petitioner for post-conviction relief who was convicted of a felony offense committed when that person was under 21 years of age who seeks leave to file a successive post-conviction petition claiming that his or her sentence violates the proportionate penalties clause of the Illinois Constitution does not have to demonstrate cause for filing the subsequent petition. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that a formerly convicted person may petition the Department of Human Rights for a grant of protected class status. Provides that the Department may grant protected class status to a formerly convicted person who meets the following conditions: the person has complied with each term and condition of the person's parole, mandatory supervised release, probation, or conditional discharge; the person has obtained a high school diploma or received a high school equivalency certificate; the person is employed or actively seeking employment or is enrolled in or has successfully completed a vocational training or college educational program; the person has not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor within the last 5 years; and the person has completed all sanctions imposed upon the person through due process of law. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules concerning what constitutes an intellectual or developmental disability that prevents the formerly convicted person from meeting some of the conditions and who is qualified to diagnose such a person. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules to carry out the provisions. Provides that protected class status previously granted to a formerly convicted person shall be revoked by the Department after notice and a hearing, if the formerly convicted person is subsequently convicted of a felony or misdemeanor. Provides that the revocation process shall be initiated by a petition that sets forth the date of the subsequent offense, description of the offense, date of conviction for the subsequent offense, and sentence imposed on the conviction. Provides that a copy of the petition and notice of the hearing date shall be served on the formerly convicted person.