Criminal Justice

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.

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.

Appropriates $500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority for grants to the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office to expand the Human Exploitation Unit. 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.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that when a defendant has previously been granted pretrial release for a felony or Class A misdemeanor and has been placed on electronic monitoring as a condition of release, that pretrial release shall be revoked upon a finding of probable cause that the defendant has committed a felony that is alleged to have occurred during the defendant's pretrial release after a hearing on the court's own motion or upon the filing of a verified petition by the State. Provides that pretrial detention shall continue pending resolution of the defendant's charges. Provides that the language that states at each subsequent appearance of the defendant before the court, the judge must find that continued detention is necessary to reasonably ensure the appearance of the defendant for later hearings or to prevent the defendant from being charged with a subsequent felony or Class A misdemeanor does not apply to a defendant whose pretrial release has been revoked pursuant to the new provision.

Appropriates $4,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois State Police for the partnership with the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police for grants 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. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that when a defendant has previously been granted pretrial release for a felony or Class A misdemeanor and has been placed on electronic monitoring as a condition of release, that pretrial release shall be revoked upon a finding of probable cause that the defendant has committed a felony that is alleged to have occurred during the defendant's pretrial release after a hearing on the court's own motion or upon the filing of a verified petition by the State. Provides that pretrial detention shall continue pending resolution of the defendant's charges. Provides that the language that states at each subsequent appearance of the defendant before the court, the judge must find that continued detention is necessary to reasonably ensure the appearance of the defendant for later hearings or to prevent the defendant from being charged with a subsequent felony or Class A misdemeanor does not apply to a defendant whose pretrial release has been revoked pursuant to the new provision.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that records containing law enforcement in-car camera and officer-worn body camera video and audio recordings that a public body received from another public body are exempt from inspection or copying under the Act. Provides that records concerning the work of the threat assessment team of a law enforcement agency are exempt from inspection or copying under the Act. Provides that criminal history records are exempt from inspection or copying under the Act. Provides that personal and private information submitted to and maintained by the Illinois State Police under the Criminal Identification Act is exempt from inspection or copying under the Act. Provides that, if a public body received more than 1,000 requests under the Act in the preceding year, then (i) the public body shall either comply with or deny a request for a record that includes video records within 30 business days (rather than 5 business days) after its receipt of the request and (ii) the time for response to any request the public body receives may be extended by not more than 10 business days (rather than 5 business days) from the original due date for specified reasons. Provides that, if a request is made for an audio or video file that is maintained in an electronic format, then the public body may not charge for the first 60 minutes of staff time to prepare the response, including conducting necessary research regarding the request, as well as locating, collecting, reviewing, and redacting any responsive audio or video files. Provides that, after the first 60 minutes of staff time, the public body may charge the preparation costs of the public body's lowest paid staff member employed in a position that performs the work to prepare the response (rather than charging specified dollar amounts for specified megabytes of data). Makes technical and other changes. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Animal Control Act. In provisions regarding civil liability for animal attacks or injuries, deletes a provision regarding an attempt to attack a person. Provides that, in addition to civil liability, an owner is guilty of specified criminal offenses if the owner negligently fails to provide adequate care or adequate control of a dog or other animal that attacks or injures a person. Creates a Class A misdemeanor, a Class 4 felony for damages exceeding $750 or for serious bodily injury, and a Class 3 felony if the victim dies. Defines "animal attack", "serious bodily injury", and "victim of the animal attack". Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Epstein Files Investigation Act. Establishes the Illinois Epstein Files Investigation Commission as an investigatory and advisory commission to investigate matters related to Jeffrey Epstein's network with a nexus to Illinois, facilitate enforcement of Illinois law, and promote transparency. Grants the Commission investigatory powers, including subpoena authority enforceable in circuit court, and requires referrals to the Attorney General and periodic reports to the Attorney General, Governor, and the General Assembly. Provides victim and whistleblower protections. Authorizes the Attorney General to exercise specified authority. Directs the Attorney General to share information upon request by the Commission. Ceases operation of the Commission after 5 years and repeals the Act after 6 years. Amends the Statewide Grand Jury Act to expand jurisdiction, to include human trafficking, involuntary servitude, sexual exploitation of children, permitting and failure to report sexual abuse of a child, prostitution-related offenses, patronizing a sexually exploited child, child pornography, bribery, official misconduct, solicitation of misconduct, tampering with public records, perjury, communicating with or harassment of jurors and witnesses, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and racketeering activity, but with a requirement for Attorney General certification or a requirement that offenses occur in more than one county or have a statewide nexus. Effective immediately.