Criminal Justice (Corrections)

Creates the Emerging Adult Sentencing Act. Provides that upon a conviction by way of plea or otherwise finding of guilt, and with the express agreement of the State's Attorney and the defendant, the court may sentence a defendant who meets the eligibility requirements under the Act to a term of probation to be performed at a community-based residential workforce development center for a period of not less than one year and not more than 3 years in lieu of incarceration in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Provides that the defendant shall be monitored by the adult probation department. Provides that the defendant shall: (1) not violate any criminal statute of the State or any other jurisdiction; (2) refrain from possessing a firearm or any other dangerous weapon; and (3) attend and participate in any program activities as detailed in the individualized service plan. Provides that a defendant is eligible for the program if the defendant is between the ages of 18 through 25, at the time of the commission of the offense, and is convicted of specified felony offenses in which a period of incarceration must be imposed, other than a sentence of natural life. Provides that prior criminal history shall not preclude eligibility for sentencing under the Act. Provides that upon successful fulfillment of the terms and conditions of probation, the court shall discharge the defendant from probation. Provides that if the defendant has not previously been granted a vacation of judgment, upon motion, the court shall vacate the judgment of conviction and dismiss the criminal proceedings against him or her unless, having considered the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history, character, and condition of the individual, the court finds that the motion should not be granted. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall establish a remote work policy for committed persons in the Department's custody to allow those persons to obtain gainful employment by private, approved employers. Establishes eligibility requirements for the program. Establishes conditions for employers who hire committed persons for remote work. Provides that a committed person may be terminated from the committed person's remote work employment at any time for any reason at the complete discretion of the Director of Corrections or the facility chief administrative officer, or their designees. Provides that all monetary compensation shall be directly deposited by the employer into the committed person's Illinois Department of Corrections account. Provides that the employer must pay the committed person employed remotely the same wage as the committed person's non-committed counterparts that work in the same role, have the same tenure, or as otherwise determined by Department policy. Provides that a committed person may appeal a decision to deny or withdraw approval to search for remote work, apply for remote work, or accept an offer for a remote work position or a decision to terminate them from a remote work position by submitting a written letter to the Deputy Director via the U.S. Postal Service or certified mail. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall ensure that a committed person and the committed person's correspondents are not charged any fee, surcharge, or cost for mail communication or mail scanning services that exceed the standard postage rate set by the United States Postal Service. Provides that the Department shall not charge the committed person or correspondent any fee, surcharge, or cost for any incoming mail addressed to and received by the committed person, including any material received through mail scanning services. Provides that the Department shall not charge the committed person any fee, surcharge, or cost for outgoing mail delivery or mail scanning services that exceeds the postage rate set by the United States Postal Service for any outgoing mail. Provides that the Department or any third-party vendor that the Department contracts with, shall not impose any fee, surcharge, or cost to the committed person above the United States Postal Service rate for mail communication, including the delivery or scanning of mail. Provides that the Department shall not use the provision of voice communication services, mail communication, mail scanning services, or any other communication services to supplant in-person contact visits. Provides that the Department shall not receive revenue, directly or indirectly, from the provision of voice communications, mail communication, mail scanning services, or other communication services to a person in custody in any institutions and facilities of the Department. Provides that beginning July 1, 2027, the Department shall annually report to the General Assembly on the status of any communication services contracts and plans to consolidate contracts to maximize purchasing power for voice communication services, mail communication services, and all other communication services. Provides that the Department shall post the report on its website. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board shall place no additional restrictions, limitations, or requirements than that provided by the statute creating the procedure for medical release. Provides that upon a determination that the petitioner is eligible for a hearing on medical release, the Prisoner Review Board shall: (1) provide public notice of the petitioner's name, docket number, counsel, and hearing date; and (2) provide a copy of the evaluation and any medical records provided by the Department of Corrections to the petitioner or the petitioner's attorney upon scheduling the institutional hearing. Provides that a hearing on a petitioner's application for medical release is public unless the petitioner requests a non-public hearing. Provides that members of the public shall be permitted to freely attend public hearings on medical release without restriction. Provides that upon denying an eligible petitioner's application for medical release, the Prisoner Review Board shall publish a decision letter outlining the reason for denial. Provides that the decision letter must include an explanation of each statutory factor and the estimated annual cost of the petitioner's continued incarceration, including the petitioner's medical care. Makes technical changes.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Creates the Department of Corrections Independent Ombudsperson Law. Provides that the Corrections Oversight Committee shall appoint the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson. Provides that the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson shall serve a term of 6 years and may be only removed from office by the Governor for cause. Provides that the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson shall not be a current or former employee of the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or a contractor for those departments. Establishes the duties of the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson. Provides that the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson shall: (1) monitor and inspect facilities of the Department of Corrections; (2) investigate unresolved complaints from committed persons, their families, and corrections staff regarding correctional facility conditions and treatment of committed persons; (3) create a uniform reporting system and collect and analyze data related to deaths, suicides, sexual and physical assaults, lockdowns, staff vacancies and committed persons-to-staff ratios, visits to committed persons, and use of solitary confinement in correctional facilities; (4) conduct regular inspections of correctional facilities at least once every year for facilities not meeting standards, and at least once every 36 months for facilities that are meeting standards; and (5) publicly issue periodic facility inspection reports and an annual report with recommendations and a summary of data. Establishes other duties of the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson. Provides that the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson shall report regularly on its activities, investigations, and inspections, including an annual report, which shall be presented to and discussed at a meeting of the Corrections Oversight Committee and make other reports on topics of special interest. Provides that all reports of the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson shall be made available to the public online and provided to the Director of Corrections, the Governor, the Attorney General, and the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Changes the sentence credits of committed persons serving a term of imprisonment in the Department of Corrections for various offenses. Provides that the sentence credit allotments shall apply to committed persons incarcerated before the effective date of the amendatory Act, and the Department of Corrections shall award sentence credit for periods of incarceration prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act accordingly. Provides that committed persons who wish to receive sentence credit for educational, vocational, substance abuse, behavior modification programs, life skills courses, re-entry planning, and correctional industry programs accumulated prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act in an amount specified in the provision to a committed person serving a sentence for an offense committed after June 19, 1998, if the Department determines that the committed person is entitled to this sentence credit, based upon: (1) documentation provided by the Department that the committed person engaged in any full-time substance abuse programs, correctional industry assignments, educational programs, behavior modification programs, life skills courses, or re-entry planning provided by the Department and satisfactorily completed the assigned program as determined by the standards of the Department during the committed person's current term of incarceration; or (2) the committed person's own testimony in the form of an affidavit or documentation, or a third party's documentation or testimony in the form of an affidavit that the committed person likely engaged in any full-time substance abuse programs, correctional industry assignments, educational programs, behavior modification programs, life skills courses, or re-entry planning provided by the Department and satisfactorily completed the assigned program as determined by the standards of the Department during the committed person's current term of incarceration. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections annually shall collect and publish on its website specified data concerning Department of Corrections facilities. Provides that this data includes: (1) contraband found by facility; (2) substance use disorder treatment or educational programming data by facility; (3) emergency medical response and hospitalizations by facility; and (4) overdoses by facility.

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 data and evidence must be made publicly available monthly on the Department's website but no later than 60 days after the use of the exception to the requirements. 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 change in the committed person's grade level or housing status or as a disciplinary sanction. Provides that committed persons may contact outside supports via phone, mail, or electronic message free of charge. Defines "original, physical copy".

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Creates the Tamms Minimum Security Unit Task Force. Provides for membership on the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall study the subject of a practical, efficient, and beneficial repurposing of the Tamms Minimum Security Unit and its property for the benefit of the public, including the possibility of providing mental health services, health services, public safety, law enforcement training purposes, fire services, medical training and any other option for repurposing that the Task Force deems appropriate. Provides that each member of the Task Force shall serve without compensation. Provides that the Task Force shall meet 2 times per year or at the call of the Chairperson. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall provide administrative support to the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2025 with its recommendations and is dissolved on January 1, 2026. Repeals these provisions on January 1, 2026. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that all institutions and facilities of the Department of Corrections shall not deny the distribution of original physical mail to committed persons after such incoming mail has undergone inspection and it has been determined that the mail does not pose a threat to the security or safety of the institution or facility, personnel of the Department, or committed persons. Defines a threat to the security or safety of the institution or facility.