Statement on the Need for Increased Independent Oversight in Illinois County Juvenile Detention Centers

Despite incarcerating more children than state-run juvenile justice facilities, county detention centers have less oversight. Currently, the Illinois Office of the Independent Juvenile Ombudsman (OIJO) has oversight authority over state-run facilities, but not county detention centers. The OIJO responds to complaints by youth in state custody and provides them with information, promoting the interests of safety, fairness, humanity, and transparency in the juvenile justice system. The jurisdiction of the office should be expanded to cover youth who are held in county detention centers, empowering the OIJO to investigate complaints from youth at county detention centers, inform government officials about problems, and make regular reports to the public.  All incarcerated youth in Illinois should be able to report problems to an independent oversight office. (December 2022)