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April 24, 2026
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2025 Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Council Strategic Plan Summary

Lucia F. Gonzalez, MA and Amanda L. Vasquez, MA
The Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Council (IFVCC) initiative comprises a Statewide Steering Committee and its local councils. The IFVCC program seeks to improve the justice system’s response to family violence...
CategoriesOTHER
April 21, 2026

Youth Leadership in Planning a Cook County Police Deflection Program

Alex Menninger, Katherine Wilson McCoy, Boya Lin, and Jessica Reichert
Police deflection programs offer an alternative to arrest by connecting youth to community-based services during police encounters. The Chicagoland Youth Deflection Initiative (CYDI), which allows officers to refer youth encountered...
CategoriesLAW ENFORCEMENTOTHER
April 21, 2026

Evaluation of the Development of Empower, a Multi-Jurisdictional Police-Led Deflection Program in West Central Illinois

Nancy Sullivan, Alex Menninger, Joshua Kirven, Cameron Kimble, Susan Alrifai, Katherine Wilson McCoy, Pedro Huet, and Jessica Reichert
Rural, multi-jurisdictional communities face challenges developing coordinated responses that connect people with substance use and mental health needs to services instead of the justice system. We evaluated the action planning...
CategoriesLAW ENFORCEMENTOTHER
April 21, 2026

Evaluation of the Action-Planning Process to Develop the Deflection Avenues Reconnection Team (DART) Police-Led Deflection Program in Central Illinois

Alex Menninger and Jessica Reichert
The large number of Americans with substance use disorders and the rising number of drug overdose deaths have resulted in a need for innovative prevention and intervention strategies. The Deflection...
CategoriesOTHERLAW ENFORCEMENT
April 17, 2026

Illinois Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee: 2025 Annual Report

Vincent Sarna and Amanda L. Vasquez
The Domestic Violence Fatality Review Act created the Domestic Violence Fatality Review initiative, consisting of the Statewide Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee (DVFRC) and regional review teams. Every year, the...
CategoriesVICTIMS
April 10, 2026

2025 Task Force on Missing and Murdered Chicago Women Annual Report

Vincent Sarna, Karen Galbraith, and Amanda L. Vasquez
The Task Force on Missing and Murdered Chicago Women Act created a task force, comprised of legislators, victim service providers, and criminal justice stakeholders, to examine five priority areas outlined...
CategoriesVICTIMS
March 20, 2026

Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Cohort One Scale and Reach Report

Jaimelee Behrendt-Mihalski, Lauren Weisner, and Thomas Johnson
This report details findings related to scale and reach of Cohort One service delivery sites using administrative data submitted by Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3)-funded programs. Over 137,000 individuals were...
CategoriesOTHER
March 18, 2026

Co-Responder Program Overview: East St. Louis – Embrace

Anna Lucia Rizzo
The Embrace co-responder pilot program embedded licensed social workers within the East St. Louis Police Department to provide crisis response, short-term stabilization, and referrals for individuals experiencing behavioral health-related emergencies....
CategoriesLAW ENFORCEMENT
March 18, 2026

Co-Responder Program Overview: Springfield − Memorial Behavioral Health

Anna Lucia Rizzo
The Memorial Behavioral Health (MBH) co-responder pilot program served individuals experiencing a crisis in Springfield, Illinois. Through the program, mental health providers collaborated with the Springfield Police Department to provide...
CategoriesLAW ENFORCEMENT
March 18, 2026

Co-Responder Program Overview: Peoria − Social Services Unit

Anna Lucia Rizzo
The Social Services Unit (SSU) co-responder pilot program embedded a licensed social worker within the Peoria Police Department to provide crisis response, short-term stabilization, and referrals for individuals experiencing behavioral...
CategoriesLAW ENFORCEMENT
March 18, 2026

Co-Responder Program Overview: Waukegan − Community Outreach Group

Anna Lucia Rizzo
The Waukegan Community Outreach Group (COG) co-responder pilot program served individuals experiencing crisis in Lake County, Illinois, by having licensed social workers partner with the Waukegan Police Department to provide...
CategoriesLAW ENFORCEMENT
February 19, 2026

Research & Analysis Update, Winter 2026 Edition

Research and Analysis Unit
The ICJIA Research & Analysis newsletter is published quarterly and highlights the work of the Research & Analysis Unit. Over 30 dedicated researchers work to improve the administration of justice...
CategoriesOTHER
December 22, 2025

Lewd Sexual Display in a Penal Institution: State Fiscal Year 2025 Report

Center for Justice Research and Evaluation
Public Act 103-283 amended the Criminal Code to establish the offense of "lewd sexual display in a penal institution." A person who is incarcerated commits this offense when they...
CategoriesCORRECTIONS
December 04, 2025

Process Evaluation of a Rural, Police-Initiated Deflection Program in Southern Illinois: Leadership Team Feedback

Jessica Reichert, John P. Smith, Cameron Kimble, Sharyn Adams, Alex Menninger, Nancy Sullivan, and Joshua Kirven
Rural areas often face gaps in behavioral health resources, with limited availability and the need to travel long distances to access services. To address such challenges, innovative strategies, such as...
CategoriesLAW ENFORCEMENT
November 18, 2025

Implementation Evaluation of a Program to Assist Victims of Violent Crime: Staff and Stakeholder Feedback

Alex Menninger, Jessica Reichert, Joshua Kirven, Nancy Sullivan, Rebecca Roberson, and Eva Ott Hill
Police are called to the scene of violent crimes that involve victims who may need, but may not be offered, supportive services. To address this, a police-led deflection program, the...
CategoriesLAW ENFORCEMENT
November 05, 2025

Research & Analysis Update, Fall 2025 Edition

Research and Analysis Unit
The ICJIA Research & Analysis newsletter is published quarterly and highlights the work of the Research & Analysis Unit. Over 30 dedicated researchers work to improve the administration of justice...
CategoriesOTHER
October 02, 2025

Illinois K-12 Public School Personnel Readiness for Supporting Student Mental Health

Jessica Reichert, Ryan Maranville, Jing Wang, and Ebonie Epinger
With rising rates of mental health disorders among youth, schools have become essential settings for early identification and intervention, despite often facing resource limitations. This study surveyed 160 Illinois K-12...
CategoriesOTHER
October 01, 2025

2024 Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee Annual Report

Illinois Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee
The Domestic Violence Fatality Review Act created the Domestic Violence Fatality Review (DVFR) initiative. It consists of a two-tiered structure composed of the Statewide Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee (DVFRC)...
CategoriesVICTIMSCRIMES
September 05, 2025

Colton's Task Force: A 2025 Illinois Domestic Violence Task Force Report

Vincent Sarna, Amanda L. Vasquez, and Mary Ratliff
The Domestic Violence Task Force Act established Colton’s Task Force. Colton Tanner Miller was a young boy killed by his father with a firearm during a domestic violence incident in...
CategoriesVICTIMSLAW ENFORCEMENT
August 11, 2025

Statewide Violence Prevention Plan for Illinois | 2025-2029

Rachel Garthe
Violence is a global public health crisis and a leading cause of death in Illinois. Many individuals and communities across the state experience its devastating impacts, including harm to health,...
CategoriesVICTIMSOTHERCRIMES
August 01, 2025

Violence Data Update

Rachel Garthe and Madisyn Welsh
The goals and recommendations of the Statewide Violence Prevention Plan: 2020-2024 were informed by a needs assessment that analyzed data on violence mostly from 2018. Data updates were needed to...
CategoriesCRIMESVICTIMS
July 30, 2025

Research & Analysis Update, Summer 2025 Edition

Research and Analysis Unit
The ICJIA Research & Analysis newsletter is published quarterly and highlights the work of the Research & Analysis Unit. Over 30 dedicated researchers work to improve the administration of justice...
CategoriesOTHER
July 21, 2025

The Evaluation of the Illinois Multi-Site Police-Initiated Deflection Initiative

Alex Menninger, Jessica Reichert, Nancy Sullivan, Cameron Kimble, John Smith, and Sharyn Adams
Deflection programs are an emerging approach to redirect people who have experienced police contact away from the criminal legal system and toward supportive services, with the goal of improving outcomes...
CategoriesLAW ENFORCEMENT
June 26, 2025

Firearm Prohibitors and Records Improvement Task Force 2025 Report

Firearm Prohibitors and Records Improvement Task Force
The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act, 20 ILCS 3930/7.9, created the Firearm Prohibitors and Records Improvement Task Force. The Task Force is charged with identifying, reviewing, and addressing gaps in...
CategoriesOTHER
June 23, 2025

Recidivism outcomes of Illinois Prison Work Release Program Participants

Jessica Reichert, Jing Wang, Ryan Maranville, Eva Ott Hill, and Karl Gruschow
Reentry into the workforce for formerly incarcerated individuals is fraught with challenges, including limited education and employer stigma. However, employment post-release has been found to reduce recidivism. Prison work release...
CategoriesCORRECTIONS
May 19, 2025

Mental Health Professionals' Experiences of Burnout and Vicarious Traumatization: Illinois HEALS Evaluation Study Findings

Erinne Smith and Amanda L. Vasquez
Mental health professionals are essential for the healing of children, youth, and families who have experienced victimization. In this study, researchers sought to better understand mental health professionals’ experiences with...
CategoriesVICTIMS
May 05, 2025

Criminal History Record Checks in Federally Assisted Housing Applications: 2024 Report

Ryan Maranville and Jessica Reichert
Section 8.10a of the Housing Authorities Act requires all Illinois public housing programs to collect and report to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) data on an annual basis...
CategoriesOTHER
April 25, 2025

Research & Analysis Update, Spring 2025 Edition

Research and Analysis Unit
The ICJIA Research & Analysis newsletter is published quarterly and highlights the work of the Research & Analysis Unit. Over 30 dedicated researchers work to improve the administration of justice...
CategoriesOTHER
April 23, 2025

Racial and Ethnic Disparity in the Illinois Juvenile Justice System: A Research Brief

Sharyn Adams and Jessica Reichert
This research brief examines racial and ethnic disparities in the Illinois juvenile justice system across five critical decision points: arrest, diversion, detention, secure confinement, and transfer to adult court. Using...
CategoriesOTHER
April 22, 2025

A Content Analysis of Illinois School Bullying Policies

Rachel Garthe, Shongha Kim, Madisyn Welsh, Alina Loewenstein, and Michelle Morrison
Bullying includes repeated, unwanted aggression from peers with a perceived or observed power imbalance; bullying can be physical, verbal, relational, or through electronic means, and bullying impacts about 20% of...
CategoriesOTHER
March 17, 2025

2024-2025 Illinois Traffic and Pedestrian Stop Data Use and Collection Task Force Findings

Traffic and Pedestrian Stop Data Use and Collection Task Force
The Illinois Traffic and Pedestrian Stop Statistical Study Act (625 ILCS 5/11-212) requires the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority to convene a Task Force of academics, police executives, and community...
CategoriesOTHER
March 13, 2025

Process Evaluation of Select Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Funded Grantees: A Summary

Alysson Gatens and Lauren Weisner
The Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act created the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program, which reinvests a portion of cannabis tax revenue into communities experiencing high rates of gun...
CategoriesOTHER
March 12, 2025

Process Evaluation of Select Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Funded Grantees

Justin Escamilla, Alysson Gatens, Kyle Hucke, Lauren Weisner, James H. Lewis, Timothy O. Imeokparia, Travis Bland, Robert Blankenberger, Ty Dooley, Ken Kriz, Daryl Kroner, Breanne Pleggenkuhle, Audrey Hickert, Lauryn Lockett, Mackenzie Meyer, Caitlynn Phillips, Bailey Saldana, Kamryn Wade, and Nanami West
The Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act created the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program, which reinvests a portion of cannabis tax revenue into communities experiencing high rates of gun...
CategoriesOTHER
February 28, 2025

Illinois Death in Custody 2024 Annual Report

Research & Analysis Unit
The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) is required by both Illinois state legislation (730 ILCS 210/3-5) and federal legislation (34 U.S.C. § 60105) to collect, report, and publish specific...
CategoriesOTHER
February 05, 2025

Research & Analysis Update, Winter 2025 Edition

Research and Analysis Unit
The ICJIA Research & Analysis newsletter is published quarterly and highlights the work of the Research & Analysis Unit. Over 30 dedicated researchers work to improve the administration of justice...
CategoriesOTHER
January 28, 2025

Illinois Work Release Centers: Perspectives of Prison Administration and Program Staff

Ryan Maranville, Emilee Green, and Jessica Reichert
Illinois’ prison work release centers, called Adult Transition Centers (ATCs), connect incarcerated people to vocational opportunities to support successful community reentry. As part of a larger process and outcome evaluation of Illinois...
CategoriesCORRECTIONS
January 24, 2025

Lewd Sexual Display in a Penal Institution: 2024 Report

Center for Justice Research and Evaluation
In 2024, the Illinois legislature created the offense of "lewd sexual display in a penal institution," 720 ILCS 5/11-9.2-1. A person who is incarcerated commits this offense when they knowingly...
CategoriesCORRECTIONS
January 24, 2025

Illinois Juvenile Justice System Data Trends Pre- and Post-COVID-19

Sharyn Adams, Jessica Reichert, Eva Ott Hill, and Arnoldo Ayala
This article provides a snapshot of juvenile trends from 2018 to 2022. It is meant to be a brief overview of youth statistics in the juvenile justice system. In the...
CategoriesOTHER
January 14, 2025

2024 Task Force on Missing and Murdered Chicago Women Annual Report

Amanda L. Vasquez and Erinne Smith
The Task Force on Missing and Murdered Chicago Women Act created the task force, comprised of legislators, victim service providers, and criminal justice stakeholders to examine five priority areas outlined...
CategoriesVICTIMS
November 15, 2024

2024 Domestic Violence Pretrial Practices Working Group Final Report: Recommendations for Improving Court Procedures

Illinois Domestic Violence Pretrial Practice Working Group Members
The Illinois Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity-Today Act (SAFE-T Act) established the Domestic Violence Pretrial Practices Working Group, a group comprised of diverse Illinois criminal justice and victim service stakeholders....
October 15, 2024

Evaluation of Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainings for Illinois Schools, 2022-2023

Jessica Reichert, Sharyn Adams, and Emilee Green
Many students struggle with mental health issues. Training on mental health is one way for schools to equip personnel with the tools needed to help and support students. We evaluated...
CategoriesOTHER
August 08, 2024

Illinois Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Research Grant Strategic Plan 2024-2029

Tracy Hahn, Jessica Reichert, Karl Gruschow, Ryan Maranville, Rebecca Roberson, Arnoldo Ayala, Pedro Huet, Emilee Green, Caleb Schaffner, H. Douglas Otto, Idetta Phillips, and Shaddi Zeid
The Illinois Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Strategic Plan for 2024-2029 outlines a comprehensive framework to enhance criminal justice practices in Illinois. The plan emphasizes evidence-based strategies to...
CategoriesOTHER
Showing 42 of 249 articles

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