IL SB2352

Creates the Office of Independent Juvenile Ombudsman within the Department of Juvenile Justice to protect the rights of youth committed to the department, including those on aftercare before final discharge.

Governor appoints the Ombudsman with Senate confirmation for 4-year terms; Ombudsman must be over 21 with a bachelor's degree and relevant expertise in juvenile justice, investigations, or civil rights advocacy.

Ombudsman investigates complaints from youth (excluding criminal allegations and ethics violations), reviews facilities and procedures, monitors department compliance with rules and standards, and reports findings to the Governor and General Assembly annually by January 1.

Department of Juvenile Justice must grant the Ombudsman unrestricted access to youth and facilities at any time, provide copies of critical incident reports, and prohibit retaliation against youth or employees who file complaints or cooperate with the Office.

Communications between youth and the Ombudsman are confidential and privileged; Ombudsman records are exempt from Freedom of Information Act disclosure except by court order showing good cause.