CD CORR-FAMILY NOTIFICATION

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4297

Introduced 1/14/2026, by Rep. Jed Davis

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

730 ILCS 5/3-7-2

from Ch. 38, par. 1003-7-2
730 ILCS 5/3-7-2.1 new

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Act may be
referred to as the Corrections Family Notification Act. Provides that the
Department of Corrections shall notify all approved visitors of a
committed person when that person is: (1) placed in restrictive housing;
(2) removed from restrictive housing; (3) housed in a unit subject to
lockdown; or (4) returned to normal operations following a lockdown.
Establishes the contents of the notification. Provides that no
security-sensitive details shall be disclosed. Provides that notification
shall be provided via email and SMS text message, if the visitor opts in.
Provides that the Department shall maintain an online portal for visitors
to update contact information and select preferred notification methods.
Provides that notification of the end of confinement or lockdown must be
sent within 2 hours of normal operations resuming. Provides that if a
notification is sent in error, the Department shall issue a corrected
notification within 2 hours of identifying the error. Provides that the
Department shall publish an annual report summarizing compliance. Provides
that the Department shall adopt rules necessary to implement the
provision, including: (1) visitor contact management; (2) communication
protocols; and (3) data privacy protections. Effective January 1, 2027.
LRB104 17041 RLC 30456 b

A BILL FOR

HB4297
LRB104 17041 RLC 30456 b
1

AN ACT concerning criminal law.

2

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3
represented in the General Assembly:

4

Section 1.
Short title.
This Act may be referred to as the
5
Corrections Family Notification Act.

6

Section 5.
Findings and purpose.
The General Assembly
7
finds:
8

(1) Approved visitors play a critical role in the
9

rehabilitation, stability, and mental health of committed
10

persons.
11

(2) Families often experience fear and confusion when
12

phone contact is suddenly cut off due to facility
13

lockdowns or placement in restrictive housing.
14

(3) Transparency regarding lockdowns and solitary
15

confinement promotes safety, reduces misinformation, and
16

supports healthy family engagement.
17

(4) The purpose of this amendatory Act of the 104th
18

General Assembly is to ensure timely notification to
19

approved visitors when a committed person is placed in
20

lockdown or restrictive housing, and when such conditions
21

end.

22

Section 10.
The Unified Code of Corrections is amended by

HB4297
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LRB104 17041 RLC 30456 b
1
changing Section 3-7-2 and by adding Section 3-7-2.1 as
2
follows:

3

(730 ILCS 5/3-7-2)

(from Ch. 38, par. 1003-7-2)
4

Sec. 3-7-2.
Facilities.
5

(a) All institutions and facilities of the Department
6
shall provide every committed person with access to toilet
7
facilities, barber facilities, bathing facilities at least
8
once each week, a library of legal materials and published
9
materials including newspapers and magazines approved by the
10
Director. A committed person may not receive any materials
11
that the Director deems pornographic.
12

(b) (Blank).
13

(c) All institutions and facilities of the Department
14
shall provide facilities for every committed person to leave
15
his cell for at least one hour each day unless the chief
16
administrative officer determines that it would be harmful or
17
dangerous to the security or safety of the institution or
18
facility.
19

(d) All institutions and facilities of the Department
20
shall provide every committed person with a wholesome and
21
nutritional diet at regularly scheduled hours, drinking water,
22
clothing adequate for the season, including underwear,
23
bedding, soap, towels, and medical and dental care. Underwear
24
provided to each committed person in all institutions and
25
facilities of the Department shall be free of charge and shall

HB4297
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LRB104 17041 RLC 30456 b
1
be provided at any time upon request, including multiple
2
requests, of the committed person or as needed by the
3
committed person.
4

(e) All institutions and facilities of the Department
5
shall permit every committed person to send and receive an
6
unlimited number of uncensored letters, provided, however,
7
that the Director may order that mail be inspected and read for
8
reasons of the security, safety, or morale of the institution
9
or facility.
10

(f)
Subject to the notification requirements in Section
11
3-7-2.1, all

All
of the institutions and facilities of the
12
Department shall permit every committed person to receive
13
in-person visitors and video contact, if available, except in
14
case of abuse of the visiting privilege or when the chief
15
administrative officer determines that such visiting would be
16
harmful or dangerous to the security, safety or morale of the
17
institution or facility. Each committed person is entitled to
18
7 visits per month. Every committed person may submit a list of
19
at least 30 persons to the Department that are authorized to
20
visit the committed person. The list shall be kept in an
21
electronic format by the Department beginning on August 1,
22
2019, as well as available in paper form for Department
23
employees. The chief administrative officer shall have the
24
right to restrict visitation to non-contact visits, video, or
25
other forms of non-contact visits for reasons of safety,
26
security, and order, including, but not limited to,

HB4297
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LRB104 17041 RLC 30456 b
1
restricting contact visits for committed persons engaged in
2
gang activity. No committed person in a super maximum security
3
facility or on disciplinary segregation is allowed contact
4
visits. Any committed person found in possession of illegal
5
drugs or who fails a drug test shall not be permitted contact
6
visits for a period of at least 6 months. Any committed person
7
involved in gang activities or found guilty of assault
8
committed against a Department employee shall not be permitted
9
contact visits for a period of at least 6 months. The
10
Department shall offer every visitor appropriate written
11
information concerning HIV and AIDS, including information
12
concerning how to contact the Illinois Department of Public
13
Health for counseling information. The Department shall
14
develop the written materials in consultation with the
15
Department of Public Health. The Department shall ensure that
16
all such information and materials are culturally sensitive
17
and reflect cultural diversity as appropriate. Implementation
18
of the changes made to this Section by Public Act 94-629 is
19
subject to appropriation. The Department shall seek the lowest
20
possible cost to provide video calling and shall charge to the
21
extent of recovering any demonstrated costs of providing video
22
calling. The Department shall not make a commission or profit
23
from video calling services. Nothing in this Section shall be
24
construed to permit video calling instead of in-person
25
visitation.
26

(f-5) (Blank).

HB4297
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LRB104 17041 RLC 30456 b
1

(f-10) The Department may not restrict or limit in-person
2
visits to committed persons due to the availability of
3
interactive video conferences.
4

(f-15)(1) The Department shall issue a standard written
5
policy for each institution and facility of the Department
6
that provides for:
7

(A) the number of in-person visits each committed
8

person is entitled to per week and per month including the
9

requirements of subsection (f) of this Section;
10

(B) the hours of in-person visits;
11

(C) the type of identification required for visitors
12

at least 18 years of age; and
13

(D) the type of identification, if any, required for
14

visitors under 18 years of age.
15

(2) This policy shall be posted on the Department website
16
and at each facility.
17

(3) The Department shall post on its website daily any
18
restrictions or denials of visitation for that day and the
19
succeeding 5 calendar days, including those based on a
20
lockdown of the facility, to inform family members and other
21
visitors.
22

(g) All institutions and facilities of the Department
23
shall permit religious ministrations and sacraments to be
24
available to every committed person, but attendance at
25
religious services shall not be required. This subsection (g)
26
is subject to the provisions of the Faith Behind Bars Act.

HB4297
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LRB104 17041 RLC 30456 b
1

(h) Within 90 days after December 31, 1996, the Department
2
shall prohibit the use of curtains, cell-coverings, or any
3
other matter or object that obstructs or otherwise impairs the
4
line of vision into a committed person's cell.
5

(i) A point of contact person appointed under subsection
6
(u-6) of Section 3-2-2 of this Code shall promptly and
7
efficiently review suggestions, complaints, and other requests
8
made by visitors to institutions and facilities of the
9
Department and by other members of the public. Based on the
10
nature of the submission, the point of contact person shall
11
communicate with the appropriate division of the Department,
12
disseminate the concern or complaint, and act as liaison
13
between the parties to reach a resolution.
14

(1) The point of contact person shall maintain
15

information about the subject matter of each
16

correspondence, including, but not limited to, information
17

about the following subjects:
18

(A) the parties making the submission;
19

(B) any commissary-related concerns;
20

(C) any concerns about the institution or
21

facility's COVID-19 protocols and mitigations;
22

(D) any concerns about mail, video, or electronic
23

messages or other communications with incarcerated
24

persons;
25

(E) any concerns about the institution or
26

facility;

HB4297
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LRB104 17041 RLC 30456 b
1

(F) any discipline-related concerns;
2

(G) any concerns about earned sentencing credits;
3

(H) any concerns about educational opportunities
4

for incarcerated persons;
5

(I) any concerns about health-related matters;
6

(J) any mental health concerns;
7

(K) any concerns about personal property;
8

(L) any concerns about the records of the
9

incarcerated person;
10

(M) any concerns about recreational opportunities
11

for incarcerated persons;
12

(N) any staffing-related concerns;
13

(O) any concerns about the transfer of individuals
14

in custody;
15

(P) any concerns about visitation; and
16

(Q) any concerns about work opportunities for
17

incarcerated persons.
18

The information shall be maintained in accordance with
19

standards set by the Department of Corrections, and shall
20

be made available to the Department's Planning and
21

Research Division. The point of contact person shall
22

provide a summary of the results of the review, including
23

any resolution or recommendations made as a result of
24

correspondence with the Planning and Research Division of
25

the Department.
26

(2) The Department shall provide an annual written

HB4297
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LRB104 17041 RLC 30456 b
1

report to the General Assembly and the Governor, with the
2

first report due no later than January 1, 2023, and
3

publish the report on its website within 48 hours after
4

the report is transmitted to the Governor and the General
5

Assembly. The report shall include a summary of activities
6

undertaken and completed as a result of submissions to the
7

point of contact person. The Department of Corrections
8

shall collect and report the following aggregated and
9

disaggregated data for each institution and facility and
10

describe:
11

(A) the work of the point of contact person;
12

(B) the general nature of suggestions, complaints,
13

and other requests submitted to the point of contact
14

person;
15

(C) the volume of emails, calls, letters, and
16

other correspondence received by the point of contact
17

person;
18

(D) the resolutions reached or recommendations
19

made as a result of the point of contact person's
20

review;
21

(E) whether, if an investigation is recommended, a
22

report of the complaint was forwarded to the Chief
23

Inspector of the Department or other Department
24

employee, and the resolution of the complaint, and if
25

the investigation has not concluded, a detailed status
26

report on the complaint; and

HB4297
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LRB104 17041 RLC 30456 b
1

(F) any recommendations that the point of contact
2

person has relating to systemic issues in the
3

Department of Corrections, and any other matters for
4

consideration by the General Assembly and the
5

Governor.
6

The name, address, or other personally identifiable
7

information of a person who files a complaint, suggestion,
8

or other request with the point of contact person, and
9

confidential records shall be redacted from the annual
10

report and are not subject to disclosure under the Freedom
11

of Information Act. The Department shall disclose the
12

records only if required by a court order on a showing of
13

good cause.
14

(3) The Department must post in a conspicuous place in
15

the waiting area of every facility or institution a sign
16

that contains in bold, black type the following:
17

(A) a short statement notifying visitors of the
18

point of contact person and that person's duty to
19

receive suggestions, complaints, or other requests;
20

and
21

(B) information on how to submit suggestions,
22

complaints, or other requests to the point of contact
23

person.
24

(j) Menstrual hygiene products shall be available, as
25
needed, free of charge, at all institutions and facilities of
26
the Department for all committed persons who menstruate. In

HB4297
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LRB104 17041 RLC 30456 b
1
this subsection (j), "menstrual hygiene products" means
2
tampons and sanitary napkins for use in connection with the
3
menstrual cycle.
4
(Source: P.A. 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-331, eff. 1-1-24;
5
104-417, eff. 8-15-25.)

6

(730 ILCS 5/3-7-2.1 new)
7

Sec. 3-7-2.1.
Family notification.
8

(a) As used in this Section:
9

"Approved visitor" means any individual listed on a
10
committed person's approved visitation roster maintained by
11
the Department of Corrections.
12

"Restrictive housing" or "solitary confinement" means any
13
housing unit or cell-based separation restricting a committed
14
person to the committed person's cell for more than 22 hours in
15
a 24-hour period.

16

"Lockdown" means any facility-wide or unit-wide suspension
17
of normal movement, visitation, or programming.

18

(b)(1) The Department of Corrections shall notify all
19
approved visitors of a committed person when that person is:

20

(A) placed in restrictive housing;
21

(B) removed from restrictive housing;
22

(C) housed in a unit subject to lockdown; or
23

(D) returned to normal operations following a
24

lockdown.
25

(2) Notifications shall include only:

HB4297
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LRB104 17041 RLC 30456 b
1

(A) the committed person's name and identification
2

number;
3

(B) whether the event is a lockdown or restrictive
4

housing placement;
5

(C) the start date and time; and
6

(D) the end date and time, once applicable.

7

(3) No security-sensitive details shall be disclosed.

8

(c)(1) Notification shall be provided via email and SMS
9
text message, if the visitor opts in.

10

(2) The Department shall maintain an online portal for
11
visitors to update contact information and select preferred
12
notification methods.

13

(3) The Department may not charge committed persons or
14
visitors any fee for receiving notifications.

15

(d)(1) Notification must be sent within 2 hours of the
16
start of restrictive housing placement or lockdown affecting
17
the committed person's housing unit.

18

(2) Notification of the end of confinement or lockdown
19
must be sent within 2 hours of normal operations resuming.

20

(e) If a notification is sent in error, the Department
21
shall issue a corrected notification within 2 hours of
22
identifying the error.
23

(f)(1) The Department shall maintain records of:
24

(A) the number of notifications issued;
25

(B) the timeliness of notifications;
26

(C) any failures to notify; and

HB4297
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LRB104 17041 RLC 30456 b
1

(D) corrective actions taken.

2

(2) The Department shall publish an annual report
3
summarizing compliance.
4

(g) The Department shall adopt rules necessary to
5
implement this Section, including:
6

(1) visitor contact management;

7

(2) communication protocols; and
8

(3) data privacy protections.

9

Section 99.
Effective date.
This Act takes effect January
10
1, 2027.

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