SPRINGFIELD – Continuing her work to promote policies of rehabilitation, State Senator Rachel Ventura advanced a bill that would give courts more flexibility in advocating for restorative justice programs for young people through the Senate Criminal Law Committee Tuesday.
“This legislation moves us toward a restorative approach, one that emphasizes real accountability, repair, and stronger outcomes for our communities," said Ventura (D-Joliet). "It also reflects a child-first mindset, recognizing that young people have the capacity to grow and should be met with responses that prioritize that potential.”
House Bill 4639 would require juvenile courts to consider restorative justice alternatives to sentencing for juvenile delinquency cases. Restorative justice provides opportunities to identify and repair harm, address trauma, reduce the likelihood of further harm and strengthen community ties through participatory processes. Importantly, House Bill 4639 reflects a child-first mindset. Ventura emphasized that young people deserve responses that recognize their capacity for growth and change, not systems that define them by their worst moment. The bill aims to bring Illinois closer to a justice system that balances accountability with opportunity, repair and the belief that better outcomes are possible.
Under current law, consideration for restorative justice programs in the case of a juvenile is at the discretion of the state’s attorney’s office. Under Ventura’s measure, a restorative justice program would be recommended to the court as an alternative to sentencing if all parties agree to participate. Research on restorative approaches has consistently shown that when people are given the opportunity to understand the impact of their actions and make amends, outcomes are stronger for everyone involved and safer for communities overall.
“We've defaulted to punishment when what young people and their communities actually need is accountability and healing,” said State Representative Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago), who sponsored the bill in the House. “This bill makes restorative practices a real part of the process, so that before a judge sentences a young person, we’ve at least asked whether there’s a better way. I’m proud to support legislation that puts community and the youth first.”
“House Bill 4639 is a simple yet impactful bill to encourage greater reliance on restorative justice practices as an alternative to traditional sentencing for juveniles,” said Juvenile Justice Initiative Director of Policy and Operations Pat Whalen. “Restorative justice, first included in the Juvenile Court Act by prosecutors in the 1999 rewrite, addresses the underlying issues leading to conflict and thus is more effective at reducing repeat offending while also providing more opportunities for victim inclusion and healing. We are grateful to Sen. Ventura for her leadership on restorative justice within the juvenile court.”
House Bill 4639 passed the Senate Criminal Law Committee Tuesday and heads to the full Senate for further action.
