SB2863 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 16291 RLC 29676 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2863

Introduced 1/16/2026, by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center Juvenile Justice Reentry Program Act. Creates a data partnership among the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, and the Department of Juvenile Justice to annually gather the following information on the population of youth served by the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center: (1) the total number of youth served during the reporting period; (2) the recidivism rate among those youth within 6 and 12 months post-release; (3) the age range and gender breakdown of those youth, with a focus on males between 13 and 20 years of age; (4) the demographic and geographic data (race, ethnicity, and home zip codes) of those youth; and (5) the primary re-offense categories and conditions of release for those youth. Provides that the Program shall equip families with the skills, resources, and mindset to support their child's reentry. Provides that the Program shall include: (1) social worker-led home readiness assessments; (2) at-home care specialists assigned to each youth or family for 90 to 180 days; and (3) trauma-informed parenting workshops and culturally competent counseling. Provides that the Program shall provides youth released from the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center with: (1) stable, affirming housing options and near-peer support; (2) partnered transitional housing units (non-carceral); (3) resident advisor mentors between 21 to 30 years of age, with an emphasis on persons who were primarily involved in the justice system; and (4) nightly check-ins, group circles, and restorative justice practices. Provides that the Program shall equip families with the skills, resources, and mindset to support their children's reentry. Provides that the Program shall be voluntary and shall have the participation of 15 to 20 male youth between 14 to 18 years of age released from the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center within a 90-day period. Provides metrics for evaluating the effectiveness of the Program. Provides that reentry and aftercare grant funding shall be provided by the Department of Human Services.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning juveniles.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center Juvenile Justice Reentry Program Act.

Section 5. Legislative intent.

(a) The General Assembly finds that:

(1) a holistic, community-based reentry program for young men released from the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center is necessary to reduce recidivism by strengthening aftercare services through family reintegration, transitional housing, and economic opportunity pipelines, grounded in restorative justice, intergenerational mentorship, and youth empowerment;

(2) despite interventions, many young people released from the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center face recurring contact with the juvenile justice system due to limited support upon reentry; and

(3) key challenges include:

(A) lack of coordinated support for families;

(B) housing instability;

(C) barriers to economic self-sufficiency; and

(D) inadequate role models and near-peer mentorship.

(b) To remedy these problems, it is the intent of the General Assembly to create the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center Juvenile Justice Reentry Program. The General Assembly recognizes that reducing recidivism begins with community involvement. Through holistic aftercare that centers on family, housing, and opportunity, this State can transform the pathways of justice-involved youth in Cook County.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Program" means the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center Juvenile Justice Reentry Program.

"Youth" means a person or persons released from the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.

Section 15. Data partnership. There is created a data partnership among the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, and the Department of Juvenile Justice to annually gather the following information on the population of youth served by the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center:

(1) the total number of youth served during the reporting period;

(2) the recidivism rate among youth cited in paragraph (1) within 6 and 12 months post-release;

(3) the age range and gender breakdown of youth cited in paragraph (1), with a focus on males between 13 and 20 years of age;

(4) the demographic and geographic data (race, ethnicity, and home zip codes) of youth cited in paragraph (1); and

(5) the primary re-offense categories and conditions of release for youth cited in paragraph (1).

Section 20. Family reintegration and home support. The Program shall equip families with the skills, resources, and mindset to support their child's reentry. The Program shall include:

(1) social worker-led home readiness assessments;

(2) at-home care specialists assigned to each youth or family for 90 to 180 days; and

(3) trauma-informed parenting workshops and culturally competent counseling.

Section 25. Transitional housing and mentorship. The Program shall provide youth with:

(1) stable, affirming housing options and near-peer support;

(2) partnered transitional housing units (non-carceral);

(3) resident advisor mentors between 21 to 30 years of age, with an emphasis on persons who were primarily involved in the justice system; and

(4) nightly check-ins, group circles, and restorative justice practices.

Section 30. Economic opportunity. If agreed to by the partnership entity, the Program shall provide youth with:

(1) self-sufficiency skill development and workforce access;

(2) career exploration workshops during detention at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center; and

(3) post-release cohort-based upskilling programs in 3 tracks:

(A) trade skills, construction training, and education provided by organizations that provide vocational training to youth;

(B) entrepreneurship and business education by organizations that provide business opportunities to youth; and

(C) civic internships and policy fellowships by organizations and State and local officeholders and organizations that mentor youth.

Local churches, chief business officers, and service providers shall provide support for implementation of the Program.

Section 35. Pilot phase of Program. The Program shall be voluntary and shall have the participation of 15 to 20 male youth between 14 to 18 years of age released from the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center within a 90-day period.

Section 40. Pilot phase timelines. The first quarter of operation of the Program shall consist of planning and recruitment. The second quarter of operation shall consist of the launch of the Program and securing housing units for the participants of the Program. The third and fourth quarters of the Program shall consist of evaluating, iterating, and scaling the Program. The Program evaluation shall measure: (i) 6th and 12 month recidivism rates of participants in the Program; (ii) completion rates of participants in the Program; and (iii) employment or internship placements. The Program shall provide participants with participant and family satisfaction surveys after their completion of the Program.

Section 45. Funding. Reentry and aftercare grant funding shall be provided by the Department of Human Services.