Criminal Justice (Corrections)

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 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.

Creates the Home for Good Act. Provides that the Home for Good Program is created as a statewide coordinated program designed to provide housing and services to persons released from an Illinois Department of Corrections facility on or after January 1, 2027 (targeted population). Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) shall be responsible for providing appropriate resources to potential applicants to acquire, develop, and rehabilitate permanent affordable housing units and transitional housing units that are designated exclusively for the targeted population. Provides that the granting and application process shall follow the existing program model of the Housing for Justice Involved Individuals Program. Requires IHDA to be responsible for providing site-based rental housing subsidies to community-based organizations who work with the targeted population. Requires the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA), beginning January 1, 2027, to provide appropriate resources to community-based organizations who work with the targeted population. Provides that such resources shall be used to provide case management and reentry navigation services to Program participants; and to make supportive services available to Program participants. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, the Executive Director of ICJIA shall ensure that regional networks of participating community-based organizations and housing providers are established to collaborate and provide services and housing to the targeted population. Contains provisions requiring a housing needs assessment tool be administered to all individuals who are exiting Illinois Department of Corrections custody; that on January 1, 2027, or as soon thereafter as reasonably possible, the Executive Director of IHDA create a Home for Good Institute to provide training and technical assistance to community-based organizations who intend to acquire, develop, rehabilitate, or operate permanent and transitional housing units for the targeted population; the establishment of the Interagency Reentry Workgroup; the establishment of the Home for Good Advisory Committee; reporting requirements; rulemaking authority to implement the Act; and other matters. Effective immediately.

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.

SB 908 amends the Illinois Unified Code of Corrections to update the powers and duties of the Department of Corrections. The bill adds provisions for using pupillometer technology to screen inmates for drug use, creating a pilot program starting in 2002. It also establishes a program to track inmate gang affiliations, allows for pre-release job preparation, and permits the use of tablets as rewards for inmate compliance. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Department of Corrections to lease correctional facilities built by local governments using revenue bonds and outlines a highway cleanup program using prisoners for trash removal.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that all institutions and facilities of the Department of Corrections shall permit every committed person to send and receive all original physical mail (rather than an unlimited number of uncensored letters), but the Director may order that mail be inspected and read for reasons of the security, safety, or morale of the institution or facility. Provides that no institutions or facility of the Department shall 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 facility, personnel of the Department, or committed persons. Provides that the Department shall collect evidence of original physical mail that is deemed to pose a threat to the safety or security of the facility or institution, personnel of the Department, or committed persons. Defines "original physical mail" and "threat to the security or safety".

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections concerning the transfer of committed persons funds. Provides that the Department of Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice shall not enter into or renew any contract with a vendor that provides electronic funds transfer services that include total fees and charges of more than 2% of the total amount of funds being transferred or $15 per transaction, whichever is less, for the privilege of electronically transferring funds. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that an individual convicted of a sex offense and released from the Department of Corrections to mandatory supervised release shall, to the extent practicable, be placed on mandatory supervised release in either: (1) the sentencing community or (2) a community of connection. Provides that placement outside the sentencing community or a community of connection may occur only upon a documented determination by the Department of Corrections that such placement is necessary due to one or more of the following: (1) verified public safety concerns; (2) victim safety considerations, including the location of a victim or the existence of protective orders; (3) the unavailability of compliant housing that satisfies statutory or mandatory supervised release conditions; or (4) the unavailability of required treatment, monitoring, or supervision resources. Provides that prior to release, the Department of Corrections shall develop an individualized reentry plan for each individual subject to the provision that identifies the sentencing community and any communities of connection and evaluates appropriate housing, treatment, and supervision options. Provides that nothing in the provision shall be construed to limit the authority of the Department of Corrections to impose conditions of mandatory supervised release necessary to protect public safety or to comply with existing law. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly no later than March 1 of each year containing aggregate data regarding: (1) mandatory supervised release placement patterns for individuals convicted of sex offenses; (2) the number of placements made outside sentencing communities or communities of connection; (3) the primary reasons for such placements; and (4) geographic distribution by county. Provides that the report shall not include personally identifying information. Defines "sex offense", "sentencing community", and "community of connection". Effective immediately.

Creates the Home for Good Act. Provides that the Home for Good Program is created as a statewide coordinated program designed to provide housing and services to persons with arrest and conviction records and persons who are currently or formerly incarcerated (targeted population). Provides that the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) shall be responsible for providing appropriate resources to potential applicants to acquire, develop, and rehabilitate permanent affordable housing units and transitional housing units that are designated exclusively for the targeted population. Provides that the granting and application process shall follow the existing program model of the Housing for Justice Involved Individuals Program. Requires IHDA to be responsible for providing site-based rental housing subsidies to community organizations who work with the targeted population which may be used to enter into lease agreements and master lease agreements for the purpose of providing housing for program participants, and tenant-based rental subsidies. Requires the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) to provide appropriate resources to community organizations who work with the targeted population. Provides that such resources shall be used to provide case management and reentry navigation services to Program participants; and to make supportive services available to Program participants, which may include housing and related services, physical and behavioral health, education, family reunification and relationship building, transportation, job training, acquiring vital documents, and meeting basic needs. Contains provisions concerning a requirement that a housing needs assessment tool be administered to all individuals exiting the Illinois Department of Corrections; a requirement that the Executive Director of IHDA create a Home for Good Institute to provide training and technical assistance to community organizations who intend to acquire, develop, rehabilitate, or operate permanent and transitional housing units for the targeted population; the establishment of the Home for Good Oversight Board; and rulemaking authority to implement the Act. Effective immediately.