IllinoisIllinois requires court reports about youth in juvenile facilities
The Department of Juvenile Justice must report certain incidents, long stays, and release delays to the court, and keep reporting if a youth leaves for aftercare before a court date.
What it does
The Department must tell the court about serious incidents involving youth in its care, certain delays in finding a place for a youth after release, and some stays lasting over a year.
If a youth is released to aftercare before a court reporting date, the Department must still send the court a report and make reasonable efforts to help the youth attend if required.
After receiving a notice, the court may ask the Department for a fuller account of the youth’s health and the Department’s response.
Argument forRegular updates could help courts learn about serious incidents, long stays, or release delays and decide whether they need a fuller report.
Argument againstPreparing written updates could add work for Department staff, especially when youth remain in a facility for over a year and need follow-up reports.
More detail
The Department of Juvenile Justice must notify the court in writing about certain incidents and situations involving youth in its care. These rules cover youth committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice. A critical incident is one that poses a serious risk to a youth’s life, health, or well-being. Examples include serious injury, hospitalization, suspected abuse, or escape or attempted escape. The Department must also report when a youth released by the Prisoner Review Board remains in a Department facility only because no aftercare host site has been approved, and when a youth has been held there for over one consecutive year. The one-year rule excludes youth adjudicated habitual or violent offenders or committed for first-degree murder. Reports about critical incidents and youths held because they lack an approved aftercare host site are due within 10 days. After a report about a youth held over a year, the Department must file another report every six months.
The Department must give the court a report if a youth is released to aftercare before a court reporting date, and make reasonable efforts to help the youth appear in court if required. This applies to youth committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice who are released to aftercare supervision before the court date set for their report. A court reporting requirement does not prevent the Department from using its release authority. The report is required when the youth’s release to aftercare happens before the court date set for reporting.
After receiving a notice, the court may require the Department to make a full report. This applies when the court receives a notice about a youth committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice. The notice must briefly describe the incident or situation, summarize the youth’s current physical, mental, and emotional health, and describe the Department’s response or its efforts to find an aftercare host site, as applicable.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 7Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0830Latest
- Aug 7Effective Date January 1, 2027
- Aug 7Governor J. B. Pritzker ApprovedBecame Law
- Jun 26Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- May 30Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Norma Hernandez
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 30Passed Both Houses
- May 30House Floor Amendment No. 1 TabledMinor
- May 30Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 076-038-000Passed House
- May 30Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Carol Ammons
- May 29Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Slaughter
- May 29Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Lilian Jiménez
- May 29Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias
- May 28Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa
- May 28Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis
- May 28Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford
- May 28House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Criminal Committee
- May 27House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
- May 27House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Justin SlaughterMinor
- May 22Third Reading/Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 31, 2026
- May 21Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Justin Slaughter
- May 21Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- May 19Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- May 19Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- May 7Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 7Do Pass / Short Debate Restorative Justice & Public Safety Committee; 007-003-000
- Apr 27Assigned to Restorative Justice & Public Safety CommitteeMinor
- Apr 16Referred to Rules Committee
- Apr 16First ReadingMinor
- Apr 16Chief House Sponsor Rep. Lilian Jiménez
- Apr 16Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford
- Apr 15Arrived in HouseMinor
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 15Third Reading - Passed; 044-010-000Passed Senate
- Mar 5Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 10, 2026
- Mar 5Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 4Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 5, 2026Minor
- Mar 4Do Pass Criminal Law; 006-003-000
- Mar 3
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 24Assigned to Criminal LawMinor
- Feb 6Referred to Assignments
- Feb 6First ReadingMinor
- Feb 6Filed with Secretary by Sen. Mary Edly-AllenIntroduced
Criminal Justice