Public Act No. 19-187 Summary

• Court automatically transfers cases of children age 15+ charged with capital felonies, Class A or B felonies to regular criminal docket; proceedings before finalization remain private and separate from adult proceedings.

• Prosecutorial officials may request discretionary transfer of certain felony cases to criminal docket; court must find offense committed after age 15, probable cause exists, and transfer serves best interests of child and public.

• Records of transferred cases remain confidential like juvenile records unless and until verdict or guilty plea entered; crime victims may access records to same extent as in adult criminal cases.

• Establishes Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee with 22 members including legislators, judicial officials, commissioners, advocates, and child welfare representatives to evaluate juvenile justice policies and expansion of jurisdiction to ages 16-17.

• Requires independent ombudsperson services at all juvenile detention facilities; mandates best practices for handling youth detention including mental health screening, limiting solitary confinement and chemical restraints, and family visitation programs.