101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB2925

 

Introduced , by Rep. Justin Slaughter

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
See Index

    Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections Ombudsman Bureau is established as a separate bureau within the Department of Corrections. Provides that the Governor shall appoint a Director of the Bureau within 30 days of the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that the Ombudsman may receive, investigate, and attempt to resolve complaints that the Department: (1) violated a specific law, rule, or Department written policy; or (2) endangered the health or safety or any person. Provides that if the Ombudsman discovers evidence that the Ombudsman reasonably believes constitutes the commission of a crime, the Ombudsman immediately shall, if the Ombudsman considers it appropriate, inform the Director of the Department, who shall conduct an investigation. Provides that an Ombudsman shall be given: (1) appropriate access to the records of an offender who files a complaint; and immediate access to any correctional facility administered or supervised by the Department. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the offense of obstruction of the Ombudsman. This offense is a Class A misdemeanor. Makes other changes.


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CORRECTIONAL BUDGET AND IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning criminal law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Criminal Code of 2012 is amended by adding
5Section 31-10 as follows:
 
6    (720 ILCS 5/31-10 new)
7    Sec. 31-10. Obstruction of the Ombudsman.
8    (a) A person commits obstruction of the Ombudsman when he
9or she:
10        (1) intentionally interferes with or prevents the
11    completion of the work of the Department of Corrections
12    Independent Ombudsman described in Article Ch. III Art. 2.1
13    of the Unified Code of Corrections;
14        (2) knowingly offers compensation to the Department of
15    Corrections Independent Ombudsman in an effort to affect
16    the outcome of an investigation or a potential
17    investigation;
18        (3) knowingly or intentionally retaliates against an
19    offender or another person who provides information to the
20    Department of Corrections Independent Ombudsman; or
21        (4) makes threats because of an investigation or
22    potential investigation against:
23            (A) the Department of Corrections Independent

 

 

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1        Ombudsman;
2            (B) a person who has filed a complaint; or
3            (C) a person who provides information to the
4        Department of Corrections Independent Ombudsman.
5    (b) Sentence. Obstruction of the Ombudsman is a Class A
6misdemeanor.
 
7    Section 10. The Unified Code of Corrections is amended by
8adding Article 2.1 to Chapter III as follows:
 
9    (730 ILCS 5/Art. Ch. III Art. 2.1 heading new)
10
ARTICLE 2.1. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS INDEPENDENT OMBUDSMAN

 
11    (730 ILCS 5/3-2.1-1 new)
12    Sec. 3-2.1-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the
13Department of Corrections Independent Ombudsman Law.
 
14    (730 ILCS 5/3-2.1-5 new)
15    Sec. 3-2.1-5. Definitions.
16In this Article:
17        "Bureau" means the Department of Corrections Ombudsman
18    Bureau established in this Article including persons
19    approved to act in the capacity of Ombudsman by the Bureau.
20        "Department" means the Department of Corrections.
21        "Ombudsman" means an employee of the Bureau who
22    investigates and resolves complaints that the Department

 

 

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1    endangered the health and safety of any person or that the
2    Department violated specific laws, rules, or written
3    policies.
 
4    (730 ILCS 5/3-2.1-10 new)
5    Sec. 3-2.1-10. Department of Corrections Ombudsman Bureau.
6The Department of Corrections Ombudsman Bureau is established
7as a separate bureau within the Department.
 
8    (730 ILCS 5/3-2.1-15 new)
9    Sec. 3-2.1-15. Director of the Bureau; employees.
10    (a) The Governor shall appoint a Director of the Bureau
11within 30 days of the effective date of this amendatory Act of
12the 101st General Assembly. The Governor shall appoint a
13successor Director within 30 days after a vacancy occurs in the
14position of the director. The Director shall serve at the
15pleasure of the Governor.
16    (b) The Director may employ technical experts and other
17employees to carry out the purposes of this Article. The
18Director may not hire a person to serve as an Ombudsman who has
19been employed by the Department during the proceeding year.
20    (c) The Department shall provide and maintain office space
21for the Bureau.
 
22    (730 ILCS 5/3-2.1-20 new)
23    Sec. 3-2.1-20. Powers of Ombudsman.

 

 

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1    (a) The Ombudsman may receive, investigate, and attempt to
2resolve complaints that the Department:
3        (1) violated a specific law, rule, or Department
4    written policy; or
5        (2) endangered the health or safety or any person.
6    However, the Ombudsman shall not investigate a complaint
7from an employee of the Department that relates to the
8employee's employment relationship with the Department.
9    (b) At the conclusion of an investigation of a complaint,
10the Ombudsman shall report his or her findings to the
11complainant.
12    (c) If the Ombudsman does not investigate a complaint, the
13Ombudsman shall notify the complainant of the decision not to
14investigate and the reasons for the decision.
15    (d) The Ombudsman shall create a monthly report that
16includes a summary of the findings of all substantiated
17complaints.
18    (e) The Ombudsman may conduct investigations of alleged
19violations of Department policy, State or federal laws, and
20Department rules at any Department facility.
21    (f) The Ombudsman may recommend changes to the Director of
22the Department concerning Department policies or practices
23based upon information learned or observations made by the
24Ombudsman during the course of an investigation.
25    (g) If the Ombudsman discovers evidence that the Ombudsman
26reasonably believes constitutes the commission of a crime, the

 

 

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1Ombudsman immediately shall, if the Ombudsman considers it
2appropriate, inform the Director of the Department, who shall
3conduct an investigation. If, after conducting the
4investigation, the Director has reasonable suspicion to
5believe that a crime has been committed, the Director shall:
6        (1) if the crime involves any person who is not an
7    offender, immediately report the crime to an appropriate
8    law enforcement agency; and
9        (2) if no person other than the offender is involved in
10    the crime, immediately report the crime to an appropriate
11    law enforcement agency if the Director believes that the
12    prison disciplinary process is not appropriate.
 
13    (730 ILCS 5/3-2.1-25 new)
14    Sec. 3-2.1-25. Access to records and facilities.
15    (a) An Ombudsman shall be given:
16        (1) appropriate access to the records of an offender
17    who files a complaint under this Article; and
18        (2) immediate access to any correctional facility
19    administered or supervised by the Department.
20    (b) A State or local government agency or entity that has
21records that are relevant to a complaint or an investigation
22conducted by the Ombudsman shall provide the Ombudsman with
23access to the records.
24    (c) A person is immune from:
25        (1) civil or criminal liability; and

 

 

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1        (2) actions taken under a professional disciplinary
2    procedure dealing with an employee of the Department.
 
3    (730 ILCS 5/3-2.1-30 new)
4    Sec. 3-2.1-30. Duties of Ombudsman.
5    (a) The Ombudsman shall:
6        (1) establish procedures to receive and investigate
7    complaints;
8        (2) establish access controls for all information
9    maintained by the Bureau; and
10        (3) except as is necessary to investigate and resolve a
11    complaint, ensure that the identity of a complainant will
12    not be disclosed without:
13            (A) the complainant's written consent; or
14            (B) a court order.
15    (b) The correspondence and communication between the
16Ombudsman and any person is a privileged communication.
 
17    (730 ILCS 5/3-2.1-35 new)
18    Sec. 3-2.1-35. Rulemaking, liability.
19    (a) The Bureau may adopt rules to carry out its duties
20under this Article.
21    (b) The Ombudsman is not civilly liable for the good faith
22performance of official duties.
 
23    (730 ILCS 5/3-2.1-40 new)

 

 

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1    Sec. 3-2.1-40. Reporting. The Director of the Bureau shall
2prepare a report each year on the operations of the Bureau. A
3copy of the report shall be provided to: the Governor, the
4General Assembly, and the Director of the Department.

 

 

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1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
3    720 ILCS 5/31-10 new
4    730 ILCS 5/Art. Ch. III
5    Art. 2.1 heading new
6    730 ILCS 5/3-2.1-1 new
7    730 ILCS 5/3-2.1-5 new
8    730 ILCS 5/3-2.1-10 new
9    730 ILCS 5/3-2.1-15 new
10    730 ILCS 5/3-2.1-20 new
11    730 ILCS 5/3-2.1-25 new
12    730 ILCS 5/3-2.1-30 new
13    730 ILCS 5/3-2.1-35 new
14    730 ILCS 5/3-2.1-40 new