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 Lodging Services Human Trafficking Recognition Training Act. Provides that a unit of local government regulating an employer or a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over an employer may, in the course of its regulatory or enforcement duties, monitor and enforce compliance with the Act. Provides that, upon the discovery of a violation of the Act, the unit of local government or law enforcement agency shall provide the employer with a reasonable notice of noncompliance that informs the employer that if the employer does not cure the violation within 30 days after notice the employer is subject to a civil penalty. Provides that, if the unit of local government regulating an employer or a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over an employer verifies that the violation was not corrected within the cure period, the Attorney General or State's Attorney may bring a civil action against that employer. Provides that an employer that violates the Act is guilty of a business offense and may be fined not more than $1,500 for each offense. Makes conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board shall publish on its official public website and provide to registered victims information regarding how to submit a victim impact statement. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board shall consider victim impact statements from any registered victims. Provides that any registered victim, including a person who has had a final, plenary, or non-emergency order of protection granted under the Protective Orders Article of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 or under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, may present victim statements that the Prisoner Review Board shall consider in its deliberations. Provides that at least 48 hours prior to early release of the prisoner from State custody or of the prisoner's pardon, commutation, furlough, or granting of sentence credit, the Prisoner Review Board shall inform a victim of the release if the victim has previously requested notification of that information. Provides that notification shall be made before 5 p.m. on weekdays. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board shall notify the victim in the underlying case of the offender's release on mandatory supervised release at least 30 days prior to release and shall allow the victim to provide a victim's statement to the Board. Provides that the victim's statement shall be considered when determining the conditions of the offender's mandatory supervised release. Provides that, before the Board makes a decision on whether to revoke an offender's parole or mandatory supervised release, the Prisoner Review Board must run a LEADS report. Provides that the Board shall publish on the Board's publicly accessible website the name and identification number of offenders alleged to have violated terms of parole or mandatory supervised release, the Board's decision whether to revoke parole or mandatory supervised release, and the names of the voting Board members. Provides that this information shall only be accessible while the offender is in State custody. Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that a petition for an order of protection may not be denied upon the basis that the petitioner or the respondent is incarcerated in a penal institution at the time of the filing of the petition.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that all institutions and facilities of the Department of Corrections shall permit every committed person to receive the original, physical copy of any mail addressed to the committed person that the committed person is entitled and allowed to receive. Provides that any exceptions to the requirements of this provision must be based on evidence that complying with the requirements of this provision present a clear and present danger to the health and safety of the correctional employees or committed persons in the correctional institution or facility. Provides that the evidence must include evidence of contraband being sent through the mail, data on the number of mail items containing contraband, test results of mail tested due to suspicion of mail containing drugs, data on where inside a correctional institution or facility contraband has been found, and the method of entry of contraband into the correctional institution or facility. Provides that the evidence must be made available to the public upon request. Provides that no committed person shall be denied, or have communications limited, with an outside support person, whether by phone, mail, video, or in person visitation, as a result of a disciplinary sanction or grade level of the infraction. Provides that committed persons may contact outside supports via phone, mail, or electronic message free of charge. Defines "original, physical copy".

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.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Keeping Sex Workers Safe Act. Creates the Sex Workers' Bill of Rights Act. Provides that sex workers shall not be subject to criminal prosecution for engaging in consensual sex work. Provides that law enforcement agencies are prohibited from arresting, charging, or prosecuting individuals solely for performing or engaging in sex work. Provides that sex workers, whether employed, contracted, or self-employed, shall be afforded the same rights and protections as other workers under Illinois law, including, but not limited to: (1) minimum wage and hour protections; (2) protection against discrimination, harassment, and unsafe working conditions; (3) access to workers' compensation and health benefits if applicable; and (4) protection of privacy and freedom from surveillance. Provides that employers, clients, or those benefiting from the services of sex workers must ensure safe working conditions, including protection from violence, exploitation, and human trafficking. Provides that sex workers operating as independent contractors shall be treated as legitimate sole proprietors or businesses under Illinois law. Provides that sex workers have the right to control their work, negotiate fair contracts, and receive payment for their services without interference or exploitation. Provides that sex workers shall not be discriminated against in access to housing, public services, financial services, or healthcare based on their occupation. Provides that all laws protecting workers from discrimination on the basis of sex, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics shall apply equally to sex workers. Defines "sex work" and "sex worker". Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Repeals the offenses of prostitution and patronizing a prostitute. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the offense of sexual misconduct with a student. Provides that a person commits sexual misconduct with a student when he or she is or was an employee of a school and commits sexual misconduct with a student who, at the time the employee was employed by the school, attended the school. Provides that the consent of the student is not a defense to a prosecution under this provision. Provides that a student is deemed incapable of consent, for purposes of this provision, when he or she is a student who attended the school while the employee was employed at the school. Provides that it is not a defense to a violation of this provision that the student was of the age to give consent to sexual penetration or sexual conduct in circumstances not involving a violation of this provision. Provides that a person convicted of violating this provision shall immediately forfeit his or her employment with a school and may not subsequently be employed at a school. Provides that a violation is a Class 3 felony. Provides exemptions. Defines "school" as a public or private elementary or secondary school or a school that operates grades kindergarten through 12. Defines "sexual misconduct" as any act, including, but not limited to, any verbal, nonverbal, written, or electronic communication or physical activity, by an employee or agent of the school district, charter school, or nonpublic school with direct contact with a student that is directed toward or with a student to establish a romantic or sexual relationship with the student. Defines other terms.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the conviction of certain offenses as grounds for disqualification for licensure or suspension or revocation of a license, includes the sex offense of abuse by an educator or authority figure under the definition of "sex or other offense". Amends the Sex Offenses Article of the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits abuse by an educator or authority figure if that person is an educator or authority figure at the school, the student is at least 18 years of age but under 23 years of age, the person is at least 4 years older than the student and holds or held within the previous year a position of trust, authority, or supervision in relation to the student in connection with an educational or extracurricular program or activity, and the person either: (1) commits an act of sexual conduct with the student; or (2) commits an act of sexual penetration with the student. Provides that abuse by an educator or authority figure involving sexual conduct is a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense or if there is more than one victim. Provides that abuse by an educator or authority figure involving sexual penetration is a Class 4 felony for the first offense and a Class 3 felony for a second or subsequent offense or if there is more than one victim. Provides that consent of the victim is not a defense to abuse by an educator or authority figure.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits stalking when he or she uses any electronic tracking system or acquires tracking information to determine the targeted person's location, movement, or travel patterns without the targeted person's consent and the person knows or should know that the use of the electronic tracking system or the acquisition of tracking information would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or the safety of a third person. Defines "electronic tracking system".

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.