Criminal Justice

This Senate resolution honors the life and legacy of Standish E. "Kwame" Willis, a prominent Chicago civil rights attorney and activist who passed away in Ghana. The bill formally memorializes his extensive contributions to social justice, including his work as a CTA bus driver during the 1968 Democratic National Convention, his career as a lawyer specializing in police brutality cases, and his role in founding organizations like Black People Against Police Torture. It highlights his specific achievements, such as helping to establish the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission and his advocacy for victims of racial oppression both locally and internationally. The resolution serves as an official record of his impact on civil rights and community organizing rather than enacting new laws or policies.

Amends the Illinois TRUST Act. Specifies that provisions of the Act that prohibit the enforcement of federal civil immigration laws by State law enforcement agencies and officials do not apply if the State law enforcement agency or official is presented with a valid, enforceable federal warrant. Specifies that nothing in those provisions prohibits communication between federal agencies or officials and law enforcement agencies or officials. Deletes prohibitions against agreements to detain individuals for federal civil immigration violations. Deletes various specified prohibitions against assisting with immigration enforcement. Repeals the Court Access, Safety, and Participation Act.

Amends the Protective Orders Article of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 and the Orders of Protection Article of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that notice and service of a protective order or an order of protection shall be deemed to have been made upon a respondent if the respondent was personally present in open court at the time the presiding judge issued the order, even if the respondent did not remain personally present for the duration of the court hearing to hear all of the conditions set by the presiding judge under the order.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that, in addition to any other disposition authorized by law, the court shall order any person arrested for patronizing a person engaged in the sex trade to participate in the Epstein Accountability Program and pay a fine based on the defendant's net income. Provides for the distribution of the fines. Establishes an education program to be known as the Epstein Accountability Program, which shall consist of an instructional program on prostitution and human trafficking schemes offered in one or more locations throughout the State. Establishes who may establish the program in various areas of the State. Provides that the program shall include information intended to increase the person's awareness of: (1) the causes of prostitution and its relationship to human trafficking; (2) the health and safety risks connected with prostitution, including its impact on the community; (3) the consequences of convictions for prostitution or human trafficking, including penalties for subsequent convictions on both patronizers and victims; and (4) the pervasiveness of human trafficking as well as the long-term physical and psychological harms of prostitution and human trafficking on its victims. Provides that a program must be approved by the Attorney General. Provides that the Attorney General shall notify the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts that the program has been established and approved by the Attorney General.

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.

Appropriates $450,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Community College Board for competitive per capita grants for prison education programs that assist incarcerated students in attaining associate degrees. Appropriates $350,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Higher Education for competitive per capita grants for prison education programs that assist incarcerated students in attaining bachelor's degrees. Effective July 1, 2026.

Urges the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Office of the Secretary of State, the Illinois State Police, local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, traffic safety organizations, and other relevant public safety stakeholders to review and strengthen policies, enforcement strategies, public awareness efforts, and sentencing guidelines related to impaired driving, extreme reckless driving, social media-driven dangerous driving, and "ghosting". Encourages continued consideration of legislative and policy reforms intended to ensure Illinois law appropriately addresses severe reckless driving conduct.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as Trey's Law. Creates the Invalidity of Certain Nondisclosure Clauses Act. Provides that a nondisclosure clause in a settlement agreement is void and unenforceable as against the public policy of this State to the extent that the nondisclosure clause prohibits an individual from disclosing to any other individual or entity or reporting to law enforcement an act of sexual abuse or facts related to an act of sexual abuse that was committed or allegedly committed against the individual before the individual attained 18 years of age. Provides that nothing in the Act may be construed to prohibit an individual from agreeing to keep confidential any other provision of a settlement agreement, including the amount or payment terms of a settlement. Applies to any settlement agreement entered into before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.

Urges the Illinois Department of Corrections and the Office of the Architect of the Capitol to establish a Corrections Fallen Heroes Memorial on the State Capitol grounds. Recognizes the inherent danger and risk that correctional employees confront daily while serving a critical public safety mission. Affirms that the State's fallen heroes are deserving of a public memorial honoring the sacrifice they made.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall enter into an agreement for a grant program for ballistics detection and imaging through a partnership with the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. Provides that the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police shall, subject to appropriation, make grants available for State and local police agencies for the purchase, expansion, and maintenance of equipment services that support the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) and other ballistic technology equipment for ballistic imaging. Provides that grantees may receive payment by advance payment, reimbursement, or working capital advance, subject to the approval of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and using Grant Accountability and Transparency Act standards. Provides that the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police's allowable costs include managing, tracking, documenting, reporting, and processing grant funds.