IL HB3492

Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission gains new duty to study youth services availability to reduce detention use and make recommendations on raising the minimum age of detention to 14

Minimum age for juvenile detention increases from 10 to 12 years old on July 1, 2026, and to 13 years old on July 1, 2027, with exceptions for 12-year-olds charged with first degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated battery with a firearm, or aggravated vehicular hijacking

Department of Juvenile Justice must establish a youth nonviolent crime resource program by July 1, 2028, providing mentoring, educational resources, employment training, behavioral health services, and parent supports to adjudicated youth under 18

Child First Reform Task Force created with 19+ members to review juvenile detention center conditions statewide, propose community-based alternatives, and recommend policy changes aligned with UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Task Force must submit final report by January 1, 2029, with recommendations on detention standards compliance, restorative practices integration, and creation of a Youth Advisory Agency with youth justice advisors in each circuit court district