Probation Services Division | State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts
(312) 793-4157 (Chicago Office)
(217) 785-0413 (Springfield Office)
Daniel S. Hunt, Assistant Director
The Probation Services Division provides services to the Chief Judges and their probation staff in Illinois' 24 Judicial Circuits. The Probation and Probation Officer's Act, at 730 ILCS 110/15(1) states: "The Supreme Court of Illinois may establish a Division of Probation Services whose purpose shall be the development, establishment, promulgation, and enforcement of uniform standards for probation services in the State, and otherwise carry out the intent of this Act."
Consistent with its statutory responsibility, the mission of the Probation Services Division is to enhance the capacity of the community corrections system in order to reduce offender recidivism and create safer communities. In carrying out this mission, the Division's training, monitoring, standards setting, and technical assistance activities extend to all aspects of the administration and operation of the 69 local probation departments or districts that serve Illinois' 102 counties. All sixteen juvenile detention centers are administered by the circuit courts.
As the primary communication link between the Division and probation and court services departments, Division employees play an integral role in achieving its mission and statutory mandates through teamwork, adopting a solution focused approach, and demonstrating professionalism. The Division is currently staffed by 27 employees (plus 2 vacancies), with office sites in Springfield and Chicago, and is comprised office operational units: Field Operations; Training and Juvenile Justice; Data, Eligibles, and Reimbursement Vouchering Program; and Interstate Compact/Intrastate Transfer. Additionally, there are two specialized program coordinator positions, one for Problem-Solving Courts and one for Pretrial Services.
Pursuant to statute, Division responsibilities include the administration of state salary reimbursement to counties for probation and detention services; review and approval of local departments' annual probation plans; collection and analysis of statewide probation data; administration of probation employment and compensation standards; employment eligibility lists; development and implementation of evidence-based practices (EBP); monitoring and evaluation of probation programs and operations; administration of the interstate compact for adult and juvenile probationers transferring into and out of the state; design and delivery of basic and advanced training for probation and detention personnel; and staff support to circuit courts to improve the administration and operation of probation services in Illinois. During 2018 staff reviewed 979 applications for eligibility for employment/ promotion. Of those reviewed, 877 were determined as meeting the eligibility requirements for employment or promotion as a probation/detention officer in Illinois. Additionally, Division staff review, compile and analyze monthly statistical data submitted by probation and court services departments to assist in policy and decision making. Quality assurance, validity and reliability, and outcome measures continue to be Division priorities with particular emphasis on risk assessment, case planning and supervision, and targeted interventions for higher risk offenders.
In 2018 four major projects/priorities continued to guide the work of the Division personnel: 1) Training and certification reviews of problem-solving court operational and certification standards; 2) Work with the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Pretrial Practices 3) Implement and begin to train over 2,500 adult and juvenile probation officers in new Risk Assessments; 4) Developing and promulgating new adult and juvenile probation supervision standards which were effective January 1, 2019.
Division staff, with the guidance and assistance of the Special Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Justice and Mental Health Planning, created Problem-Solving Court Standards and a certification process for Illinois' 109 problem-solving courts. Collaborative efforts with local problem-solving court teams concentrated on the certification process during 2018. Division staff will continue conducting site visits to local problem-solving courts to offer technical assistance and support to these teams. Future multi-disciplinary training for problem-solving court team members will remain a priority.
Division staff also will continue the ongoing implementation of EBP through interaction with departments to develop basic and advanced knowledge through skill-based training for adult and juvenile probation officers, juvenile detention officers, supervisors and department managers. Follow-up training and technical assistance on both adult and juvenile offender risk assessment and effective case management strategies will also continue throughout the state.
The Division's Interstate Compact Unit staff oversees the transfer of adult felony and qualifying misdemeanor probation cases and juvenile probation cases between states consistent with the national rules set forth by the Interstate Commission on Adult Offender Supervision (ICAOS) and the Interstate Commission for Juveniles (ICJ). As of December 31, 2018, a total of 5,861 (3,858 outgoing; 2,003 incoming) adult probation compact cases were under active supervision. The Compact Unit's staff also coordinated the transfer of 958 juvenile probation cases. Besides oversight of adult and juvenile transfers, the Compact Unit's staff continuously provides extra information and support to probation officers regarding ICAOS and ICJ through training and responses to email queries addressing questions about the transfer process.
Throughout 2018, the Division convened several planning and special focus committees and workgroups comprised of probation and court services officers, supervisors or managers. The purpose of these committees and workgroups is to collaborate with probation and juvenile detention personnel in the design and implementation of training events, or to provide expertise and practical application feedback on programming, policy and standards development, and other initiatives.
Division staff also continued to serve as liaison to the Supreme Court Probation Policy Advisory Board with the purpose of: 1) Advising the AOIC on policy matters and programming in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of Illinois' probation and court services departments; 2) Providing a formal venue for communication, review, analysis and exchange of information; and 3) Identifying opportunities, resources and strategies to advance the probation profession's mission. Membership of the Board is comprised of probation and court services managers representing all five of Illinois' appellate court districts. Advisement was provided on myriad policies, including Probation Supervision Standards, training, intrastate transfers and detention.
Probation and Pretrial Practices