Criminal Justice

This bill appoints Stephanie Love-Patterson as a member of the Prisoner Review Board, a body responsible for overseeing the rights and conditions of incarcerated individuals. The legislation follows a standard confirmation process where the executive branch recommends her selection, and the legislature votes to approve the appointment. Once confirmed, Love-Patterson will serve on the board to help review cases and ensure fair treatment within the prison system. This change directly affects the composition of the board but does not alter the underlying laws or policies governing prisoner rights.

Amends the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that required hate crime training so Illinois may include material to help officers distinguish hate crimes from other crimes, understand and assist the victims of hate crimes, and ensure the accurate reporting of hate crimes, provides that the Illinois State Police shall biannually review the hate crime training curriculum. Provides the Illinois State Police may consult with the commission on discrimination and hate crimes to update the curriculum as needed. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall conduct or approve training programs in crimes motivated by bias. Includes requirements for the training programs. Requires the training for new law enforcement officers and the completion of continuing education credits for current law enforcement officers who complete the training.

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes changes in provisions concerning definitions; oaths, subpoenas, and penalties; applicants with criminal convictions; qualification for licensure or registration; health care worker licensure actions; automatic suspension of a health care worker's license; the publication of disciplinary actions; and records of Department actions. Amends the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985. In provisions concerning required licensure, provides that an application shall not be automatically placed on hold, delayed, denied, or otherwise not processed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation because it was submitted by a person who is incarcerated. Amends the Health Care Professional Credentials Data Collection Act. In provisions concerning licensure records, provides that licensure records designated confidential and considered sealed (rather than expunged) for reporting purposes by the licensee are not reportable under the Act. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. In provisions concerning loss and restoration of rights, provides that no application for specific licenses granted under the authority of the State shall be denied to (rather than denied by reason of) an eligible offender who has obtained a certificate of relief from disabilities, having been previously convicted of one or more criminal offenses (rather than or by reason of a finding of lack of "good moral character"), when the finding is solely based upon the fact that the applicant has previously been convicted of one or more criminal offenses, except for certain circumstances. Repeals provisions concerning the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation's annual report to the General Assembly. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Juvenile Justice shall provide resources to persons under the 18 years of age who have been adjudicated delinquent for a nonviolent crime. Provides that a nonviolent crime does not include the use or threat of force toward a person. Provides that the resources shall include: (1) mentoring; (2) access to educational resources in collaboration with the State Board of Education; (3) employment training opportunities; (4) behavioral health services, including trauma informed services; (5) parent supports; and (6) any other resources that the Department deems helpful to youth convicted of nonviolent crimes. Provides that the Department may provide services through existing or new service contracts with community agencies. Provides that the circuit courts and probation departments may refer youth to this program. Provides that the Department shall not provide any supervision of court-ordered conditions under the program. Provides that on or before July 1, 2026, the Department shall publicize on its website the program and the process for referring eligible youth. Provides that the Department shall include the number of youth and families served and a summary of the types of services provided through this program in its annual report.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Makes technical changes in a provision that states if the minor is in the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, pursuant to an order entered under the Delinquent Minors Article of the Act, the court shall conduct permanency hearings as set out in the court review provisions of the Abused, Neglected, or Dependent Minors Article of the Act.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Creates the Juvenile Detention Center Strategic Utilization Task Force to review and study the necessity of juvenile detention centers, complaints that arise out of the county juvenile detention centers in the State, and community-based alternatives to juvenile detention. Includes provisions about Task Force membership and duties. Provides that on or before January 1, 2026, the Task Force shall publish a final report of its findings and recommendations. Repeals the provisions on January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall require that each school district annually report the number of students who were referred to a law enforcement agency or official and the number of instances of referrals to law enforcement that students received. Provides that on or before January 31, 2027 and on or before January 31 of each subsequent year, the State Board of Education shall prepare a report on student referrals to law enforcement in all school districts in the State. Requires a parent-teacher advisory committee to develop policy guideline procedures to establish and maintain a reciprocal reporting system between the school district and local law enforcement agencies regarding both criminal and civil offenses (rather than only criminal offenses) committed by students. Removes language providing that a student may not be issued a monetary fine or fee as a disciplinary consequence. Instead, prohibits school personnel from issuing a monetary fine, fee, ticket, or citation for a municipal code violation. Provides that school personnel (rather than a school district) may not refer a truant, chronic truant, or truant minor to any other local public entity, school resource officer, or peace officer (rather than only to any other local public entity) for that local public entity, school resource officer, or peace officer to issue the child a fine or fee as punishment for truancy. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act and the Uniform Crime Reporting Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, the Illinois State Police shall submit to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, or provide to the Authority through a web-based portal, specified information concerning homicides on a quarterly basis. Requires the Authority to study and compile the information and, on a quarterly basis, publish the information on the Authority's public website in a form determined by the Authority.

Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that crime victims have the right to be treated with fairness and respect during the investigatory process, including the right to be free from deception and free from the knowing communication of false facts about evidence during interviews and conversations with law enforcement.

Amends the Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act. Provides that each law enforcement agency that seizes, forfeits, or receives property subject to reporting under the Act shall report certain information about each seizure and forfeiture of property to the Illinois State Police no later than 60 days after December 31 of the year in which the property is seized or forfeited. Adds certain required information, including the accused person's race, sex, age, and zip code, as well as a citation to the statutory authorities under which the property was seized and the accused person was arrested, to the information to be submitted in a report. Adds certain required information from court records about each forfeiture of property to the information to be reported to the Illinois State Police. Provides that if an agency did not seize, forfeit, receive, or spend forfeiture funds, it shall file a null report with the Illinois State Police. Provides that the annual report shall include an aggregate summary of all seizures and forfeitures carried out and their respective proceeds, as well as other information, including categories of expenditures, such as investigation and litigation expenses, software, hardware, appliances, canines, surveillance technology, IMSI catchers, operating expenses, and administrative expenses. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall post annually on its website aggregate data for each law enforcement agency with certain information. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall, 120 days after the end of each calendar year, submit to the General Assembly, Attorney General, and Governor, as well as post on its website, a written report that summarizes certain activity in the State for the preceding year regarding property seized and related expenditures at the State and local levels, with categorized accounting and other requirements. Provides that the Illinois State Police may include certain recommendations in its report. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall, on or before January 1, 2026 (rather than 2019), establish and implement the requirements of this Act. Makes other changes.