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Pretrial Implementation Task Force | State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts

The Illinois Supreme Court Pretrial Implementation Task Force was created in 2020 to prioritize and implement the recommendations of the Supreme Court Commission on Pretrial Practices Final Report and help prepare the justice system for the changes coming once the Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA). The PFA abolishes the use of cash bail in pretrial release decisions on Jan. 1, 2023 and establishes new processes for pretrial release and detention decisions.

The Task Force is committed to preparing all justice system partners throughout Illinois to implement the requirements of the PFA by its January 1 effective date. To accomplish this, the Task Force, its subcommittees and other AOIC working groups are partnering with national, state and local experts including the Center for Effective Public Policy and Justice System Partners. The Task Force has created six subcommittees: Communications, Education and Training, Legislation, Pretrial Assessment Tools, PFA Guidelines and PFA Pilot Sites. The subcommittees are made up of over 100 members from around the state and include judges, sheriffs, police chiefs, state’s attorneys, public defenders, circuit clerks, pretrial officers, domestic violence advocates, victims’ rights advocates, community members with lived experience in the pretrial system, trial court administrators and researchers.

Contact Information:

Hon. Robbin Stuckert
23rd Judicial Circuit, Presiding Judge (Chair)
rstuckert@illinoiscourts.gov

General Emailpretrialtaskforce@illinoiscourts.gov

Press Releases

 

Town Hall Meetings

The Task Force will host a series of monthly town hall meetings starting on June 23 at 4 p.m. via Zoom. These meetings will update court stakeholders on the work of the Task Force as it prepares for the changes coming once the Pretrial Fairness Act and answer questions regarding the PFA.

Future town hall meetings are scheduled for the third Thursday of the month at noon: July 21, August 18, September 15 and continuing into 2023. Any questions regarding the town halls and the work of the Task Force can be sent to pretrialtaskforce@illinoiscourts.gov

Title Date & Time Event Overview
Introductory Town Hall June 23, 4 p.m. This first town hall will cover an introduction of the six subcommittees and their work to prepare the state for implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act.
Town Hall No. 2 July 21, noon An agenda for this town hall will be posted at a later date.
Town Hall No. 3 August 18, noon An agenda for this town hall will be posted at a later date.
Town Hall No. 4 September 15, noon An agenda for this town hall will be posted at a later date.

 

Subcommittee Information

PFA Guidelines

Subcommittee Purpose

The purpose of the PFA Guidelines Subcommittee is to develop a model process, guidelines, and related resources for counties to use to implement the Pretrial Fairness Act.

Subcommittee Activities

To accomplish its purpose, this subcommittee will conduct the following activities:

  1. Prepare a model system map that illustrates how the system “should” work based on the PFA and taking into consideration the Commission’s report.
  2. Prepare guidelines that explain how pretrial decision making should occur under the PFA (e.g., what are the components of a pretrial detention hearing, under the PFA).
  3. Identify where new court rules or forms are needed to provide guidance to the counties.
  4. Develop documents that are designed to advise counties on the steps they can take to implement the PFA.
  5. Identify the most challenging parts of the PFA and develop guidance for counties to consider when starting to implement the PFA.
  6. Liaise with the PFA Pilot Sites Subcommittee and hear what challenges are facing the pilot sites; revise any documents or guidance accordingly.
  7. Liaise with the Education Subcommittee to ensure that any training materials align with the guidance prepared by this subcommittee.

PFA Pilot Sites

Subcommittee Purpose

The purpose of the Pilot Sites Subcommittee is to identify and provide technical assistance to two (2) to three (3) sites to support their implementation of the PFA, and to share their tools, templates and experience with other jurisdictions so that all Illinois counties are prepared to fully implement the provisions of the PFA in advance of the 1/1/23 effective date.

Subcommittee Activities

To accomplish its purpose, this subcommittee will conduct the following activities:

  1. Identify pilot sites via engagement with cross-disciplinary local stakeholders and community members
  2. Work with the sites to develop and implement plans that incorporate the input of cross-disciplinary local stakeholders and community members and have clearly defined goals and objectives
  3. Serve in a supportive advisory role to the sites as they conduct planning and implementation
  4. Develop baseline measures and support sites’ data collection efforts to determine the impact of the pilot project in partnership with the Guidelines subcommittee
  5. Create and implement a forum to support statewide sharing of tools, processes and lessons learned from pilot sites

Education

Subcommittee Purpose

The Education Subcommittee shall develop a comprehensive Education Plan (Plan) to support the implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA) effective January 1, 2023.

Subcommittee Activities

To accomplish its purpose, this subcommittee will conduct the following activities:

  1. Develop a comprehensive education plan to identify the following and sustain continuing education post PFA implementation.
  2. Identify overall educational goals.
  3. Identify the Stakeholders, including the community.
  4. Determine the educational needs of each Stakeholder group.
  5. Develop a comprehensive PFA curriculum.
  6. Design courses consistent with Stakeholder need and overall educational goal.
  7. Identify presenters.
  8. Develop a calendar of PFA programs and course presentations.
  9. Collaborate with the Task Force Guidelines, Assessment and Communication Subcommittees, to ensure educational content, materials and resources align.
  10.   Coordinate with OSPS on PFA related education content, materials and resources.

Communications

Subcommittee Purpose

The purpose of the Communications Subcommittee is to develop a plan and resources to educate diverse internal and external audiences about the PFA—including the legal and evidence-based practices that will support successful implementation of the law—and the AOIC’s plans for PFA implementation.

Subcommittee Activities

To accomplish its purpose, this subcommittee will conduct the following activities:

  1. Prepare a strategic communications plan for both internal and external audiences that the Task Force can discuss and approve.
           a. Create a public webpage that covers the basics of the PFA, explainers, and news coverage; this would be geared towards public, media, legislators.
  2. Identify and recruit spokespeople from varied constituencies, including stakeholder agencies, advocacy groups, and the community.
  3. Create documents (e.g., issue briefs, policy summaries, talking points) that are designed to:
           a. help the public understand the changes underway as the PFA is implemented
           b. provide clear, accurate, and up-to-date guidance to those speaking publicly (or internally) about PFA implementation
  4. Coordinate with the Education Subcommittee and PFA Guidelines Subcommittee to ensure consistency in content and messaging.

Legislation

Subcommittee Purpose

Review pretrial-related legislation for possible improvements and clarity.

Pretrial Assessment Tools

Subcommittee Purpose

The purpose of the Pretrial Assessment Tools subcommittee is to develop and approve guidelines for scoring and using assessment tools related to the Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA).

Subcommittee Activities

To accomplish its purpose, this subcommittee will conduct the following activities:

  1. Review the sections of PFA about the use of pretrial assessment tools
  2. Identify existing pretrial services professionals within Illinois and outside of Illinois to serve as advisors to the subcommittee, as necessary
  3. Develop processes and clearly defined instructions on scoring the three approved tools in use across Illinois (ORAS, VPRAI-R, PSA)
  4. Represent the Taskforce on the JSP Steering Committee for the development of a statewide tool
  5. Identify potential research questions or measures that may need to be forwarded to the AOIC (OSPS) data team
  6. Defining willful vs. non-willful flight - Potential cross over with PFA Guidelines

Committee Members

Charge: Provide guidance and recommendations regarding pre-trial reform in the Illinois criminal justice system.

Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Pretrial Practices Final Report
Supreme Court Commission on Pretrial Practices Preliminary Report

Chairperson: Hon. Robbin J. Stuckert
Supreme Court Liaison: Hon. P. Scott Neville, Jr.

Members
Carol Ammons - Representative John Booker - Sheriff John Curran - Senator
Mitchell Davis - Chief of Police Garien Gatewood - Director Keith Grant - Chief of Special Defense
Justin Hood - State's Attorney Hamilton County Nathalina Hudson - Chief of Staff Clint Hull - Chief Judge 16th Circuit
Rebecca Janowitz - Cook County Justice Advisory Council Sharone Mitchell - Cook County Public Defender P. Scott Neville - Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court
David Olson - Professor in the Criminal Justice and Criminology Department Elgie Sims - Senator Cara Smith - Director of the Office of Statewide Pretrial Services
Robbin Stuckert - Chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Pretrial Practices Implementation Task Force Carol Thompson - Partner at Chapman and Cutler LLP Dan Ugaste - Representative
Justice Theis Welcome
Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts
Dan Hunt - Assistant Director, Probation Services Joanne Olson - Chief of Staff, Office of Statewide Pretrial Services Sharjeel Rizvi - Pretrial Services Administrator
Jason Slone - Field Services Coordinator  Wendy Venvertloh - Deputy Director of Performance Management, OSPS