SB2565 Summary

• Amends the Drug Court Treatment Act, Veterans and Servicemembers Court Treatment Act, and Mental Health Court Treatment Act to align definitions, procedures, and standards with Illinois Supreme Court Problem-Solving Court Standards for evidence-based practices.

• Establishes that drug courts, veterans courts, and mental health courts must be certified by the Illinois Supreme Court and requires judges, prosecutors, and public defenders to receive mandatory training on topics including behavioral health, substance use disorders, mental illness, co-occurring disorders, and trauma.

• Allows participants to voluntarily withdraw from programs with judicial protections and permits State's Attorneys, participants, or defense attorneys to move to vacate and expunge eligible convictions upon successful program completion.

• Requires comprehensive clinical assessments and individualized treatment plans developed by qualified professionals and prioritizes evidence-based, least restrictive treatment options including medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders.

• Reduces the lookback period for prior crimes of violence from 10 years to 5 years for program eligibility and clarifies that failure to pay program fines or fees cannot prevent participants from advancing program phases or completing the program.