§ 5-145

Cooperation of agencies; Serious Habitual Offender Comprehensive Action Program. (a) The Serious Habitual Offender Comprehensive Action Program (SHOCAP) is a multi-disciplinary interagency case management and information sharing system that enables the juvenile justice system, schools, and social service agencies to make more informed decisions regarding a small number of juveniles who repeatedly commit serious delinquent acts. (b) Each county in the State of Illinois, other than Cook County, may establish a multi-disciplinary agency (SHOCAP) committee. In Cook County, each subcircuit or group of subcircuits may establish a multi-disciplinary agency (SHOCAP) committee. The committee shall consist of representatives from the following agencies: local law enforcement, area school district, state's attorney's office, and court services (probation). The chairperson may appoint additional members to the committee as deemed appropriate to accomplish the goals of this program, including, but not limited to, representatives from the juvenile detention center, mental health, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Human Services and community representatives at large. (c) The SHOCAP committee shall adopt, by a majority of the members: (1) criteria that will identify those who qualify as a serious habitual juvenile offender; and (2) a written interagency information sharing agreement to be signed by the chief executive officer of each of the agencies represented on the committee. The interagency information sharing agreement shall include a provision that requires that all records pertaining to a serious habitual offender (SHO) shall be confidential. Disclosure of information may be made to other staff from member agencies as authorized by the SHOCAP committee for the furtherance of case management and tracking of the SHO. Staff from the member agencies who receive this information shall be governed by the confidentiality provisions of this Act. The staff from the member agencies who will qualify to have access to the SHOCAP information must be limited to those individuals who provide direct services to the SHO or who provide supervision of the SHO. (d) The Chief Juvenile Circuit Judge, or the Chief Circuit Judge, or the designee of the Chief Juvenile Circuit Judge or Chief Circuit Judge, may issue a comprehensive information sharing court order. The court order shall allow agencies who are represented on the SHOCAP committee and whose chief executive officer has signed the interagency information sharing agreement to provide and disclose information to the SHOCAP committee. The sharing of information will ensure the coordination and cooperation of all agencies represented in providing case management and enhancing the effectiveness of the SHOCAP efforts. (e) Any person or agency who is participating in good faith in the sharing of SHOCAP information under this Act shall have immunity from any liability, civil, criminal, or otherwise, that might result by reason of the type of information exchanged. For the purpose of any proceedings, civil or criminal, the good faith of any person or agency permitted to share SHOCAP information under this Act shall be presumed. (f) All reports concerning SHOCAP clients made available to members of the SHOCAP committee and all records generated from these reports shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, except as specifically authorized by this Act or other applicable law. It is a Class A misdemeanor to permit, assist, or encourage the unauthorized release of any information contained in SHOCAP reports or records.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23.)