Bill Text: IL HB3713 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that all institutions and facilities of the Department of Corrections shall permit every committed person to receive the original, physical copy of any mail addressed to the committed person that the committed person is entitled and allowed to receive. Provides that any exceptions to the requirements of this provision must be based on evidence that complying with the requirements of this provision present a clear and present danger to the health and safety of the correctional employees or committed persons in the correctional institution or facility. Provides that the evidence must include evidence of contraband being sent through the mail, data on the number of mail items containing contraband, test results of mail tested due to suspicion of mail containing drugs, data on where inside a correctional institution or facility contraband has been found, and the method of entry of contraband into the correctional institution or facility. Provides that the evidence must be made available to the public upon request. Provides that no committed person shall be denied, or have communications limited, with an outside support person, whether by phone, mail, video, or in person visitation, as a result of a disciplinary sanction or grade level of the infraction. Provides that committed persons may contact outside supports via phone, mail, or electronic message free of charge. Defines "original, physical copy".

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-18 - Referred to Rules Committee [HB3713 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB3713-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3713 Introduced , by Rep. Laura Faver Dias SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
730 ILCS 5/3-7-2 from Ch. 38, par. 1003-7-2
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that all institutions and facilities of the Department of Corrections shall permit every committed person to receive the original, physical copy of any mail addressed to the committed person that the committed person is entitled and allowed to receive. Provides that any exceptions to the requirements of this provision must be based on evidence that complying with the requirements of this provision present a clear and present danger to the health and safety of the correctional employees or committed persons in the correctional institution or facility. Provides that the evidence must include evidence of contraband being sent through the mail, data on the number of mail items containing contraband, test results of mail tested due to suspicion of mail containing drugs, data on where inside a correctional institution or facility contraband has been found, and the method of entry of contraband into the correctional institution or facility. Provides that the evidence must be made available to the public upon request. Provides that no committed person shall be denied, or have communications limited, with an outside support person, whether by phone, mail, video, or in person visitation, as a result of a disciplinary sanction or grade level of the infraction. Provides that committed persons may contact outside supports via phone, mail, or electronic message free of charge. Defines "original, physical copy".
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A BILL FOR
HB3713 LRB104 06497 RLC 16533 b
AN ACT concerning criminal law.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Unified Code of Corrections is amended by
changing Section 3-7-2 as follows:
(730 ILCS 5/3-7-2) (from Ch. 38, par. 1003-7-2)
Sec. 3-7-2. Facilities.
(a) All institutions and facilities of the Department
shall provide every committed person with access to toilet
facilities, barber facilities, bathing facilities at least
once each week, a library of legal materials and published
materials including newspapers and magazines approved by the
Director. A committed person may not receive any materials
that the Director deems pornographic.
(b) (Blank).
(c) All institutions and facilities of the Department
shall provide facilities for every committed person to leave
his cell for at least one hour each day unless the chief
administrative officer determines that it would be harmful or
dangerous to the security or safety of the institution or
facility.
(d) All institutions and facilities of the Department
shall provide every committed person with a wholesome and

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nutritional diet at regularly scheduled hours, drinking water,
clothing adequate for the season, including underwear,
bedding, soap, and towels, and medical and dental care.
Underwear provided to each committed person in all
institutions and facilities of the Department shall be free of
charge and shall be provided at any time upon request,
including multiple requests, of the committed person or as
needed by the committed person.
(e) All institutions and facilities of the Department
shall permit every committed person to send and receive an
unlimited number of uncensored letters, provided, however,
that the Director may order that mail be inspected and read for
reasons of the security, safety, or morale of the institution
or facility.
(e-1)(1) All institutions and facilities of the Department
shall permit every committed person to receive the original,
physical copy of any mail addressed to the committed person
that the committed person is entitled and allowed to receive.
(2) Any exceptions to the requirements of this subsection
must be based on evidence that complying with the requirements
of this subsection present a clear and present danger to the
health and safety of the correctional employees or committed
persons in the correctional institution or facility. The
evidence must include evidence of contraband being sent
through the mail, data on the number of mail items containing
contraband, test results of mail tested due to suspicion of

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mail containing drugs, data on where inside a correctional
institution or facility contraband has been found, and the
method of entry of contraband into the correctional
institution or facility. The evidence must be made available
to the public upon request.
(3) No committed person shall be denied, or have
communications limited, with an outside support person,
whether by phone, mail, video, or in person visitation, as a
result of a disciplinary sanction or grade level of the
infraction.
(4) In this subsection (e-1), "original, physical copy"
means a letter, card, or other document delivered to the
correctional institution or facility by the United States
Postal Service or other delivery service. "Original, physical
copy" does not include mail that is scanned, photocopied, or
otherwise duplicated by the correctional institution or
facility or any entity contracted by the correctional
institution or facility to provide such a service.
(e-2) Committed persons may contact outside supports via
phone, mail, or electronic message free of charge.
(f) All of the institutions and facilities of the
Department shall permit every committed person to receive
in-person visitors and video contact, if available, except in
case of abuse of the visiting privilege or when the chief
administrative officer determines that such visiting would be
harmful or dangerous to the security, safety or morale of the

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institution or facility. Each committed person is entitled to
7 visits per month. Every committed person may submit a list of
at least 30 persons to the Department that are authorized to
visit the committed person. The list shall be kept in an
electronic format by the Department beginning on August 1,
2019, as well as available in paper form for Department
employees. The chief administrative officer shall have the
right to restrict visitation to non-contact visits, video, or
other forms of non-contact visits for reasons of safety,
security, and order, including, but not limited to,
restricting contact visits for committed persons engaged in
gang activity. No committed person in a super maximum security
facility or on disciplinary segregation is allowed contact
visits. Any committed person found in possession of illegal
drugs or who fails a drug test shall not be permitted contact
visits for a period of at least 6 months. Any committed person
involved in gang activities or found guilty of assault
committed against a Department employee shall not be permitted
contact visits for a period of at least 6 months. The
Department shall offer every visitor appropriate written
information concerning HIV and AIDS, including information
concerning how to contact the Illinois Department of Public
Health for counseling information. The Department shall
develop the written materials in consultation with the
Department of Public Health. The Department shall ensure that
all such information and materials are culturally sensitive

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and reflect cultural diversity as appropriate. Implementation
of the changes made to this Section by Public Act 94-629 is
subject to appropriation. The Department shall seek the lowest
possible cost to provide video calling and shall charge to the
extent of recovering any demonstrated costs of providing video
calling. The Department shall not make a commission or profit
from video calling services. Nothing in this Section shall be
construed to permit video calling instead of in-person
visitation.
(f-5) (Blank).
(f-10) The Department may not restrict or limit in-person
visits to committed persons due to the availability of
interactive video conferences.
(f-15)(1) The Department shall issue a standard written
policy for each institution and facility of the Department
that provides for:
(A) the number of in-person visits each committed
person is entitled to per week and per month including the
requirements of subsection (f) of this Section;
(B) the hours of in-person visits;
(C) the type of identification required for visitors
at least 18 years of age; and
(D) the type of identification, if any, required for
visitors under 18 years of age.
(2) This policy shall be posted on the Department website
and at each facility.

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(3) The Department shall post on its website daily any
restrictions or denials of visitation for that day and the
succeeding 5 calendar days, including those based on a
lockdown of the facility, to inform family members and other
visitors.
(g) All institutions and facilities of the Department
shall permit religious ministrations and sacraments to be
available to every committed person, but attendance at
religious services shall not be required. This subsection (g)
is subject to the provisions of the Faith Behind Bars Act.
(h) Within 90 days after December 31, 1996, the Department
shall prohibit the use of curtains, cell-coverings, or any
other matter or object that obstructs or otherwise impairs the
line of vision into a committed person's cell.
(i) A point of contact person appointed under subsection
(u-6) of Section 3-2-2 of this Code shall promptly and
efficiently review suggestions, complaints, and other requests
made by visitors to institutions and facilities of the
Department and by other members of the public. Based on the
nature of the submission, the point of contact person shall
communicate with the appropriate division of the Department,
disseminate the concern or complaint, and act as liaison
between the parties to reach a resolution.
(1) The point of contact person shall maintain
information about the subject matter of each
correspondence, including, but not limited to, information

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about the following subjects:
(A) the parties making the submission;
(B) any commissary-related concerns;
(C) any concerns about the institution or
facility's COVID-19 COVID protocols and mitigations;
(D) any concerns about mail, video, or electronic
messages or other communications with incarcerated
persons;
(E) any concerns about the institution or
facility;
(F) any discipline-related concerns;
(G) any concerns about earned sentencing credits;
(H) any concerns about educational opportunities
for incarcerated persons;
(I) any concerns about health-related matters;
(J) any mental health concerns;
(K) any concerns about personal property;
(L) any concerns about the records of the
incarcerated person;
(M) any concerns about recreational opportunities
for incarcerated persons;
(N) any staffing-related concerns;
(O) any concerns about the transfer of individuals
in custody;
(P) any concerns about visitation; and
(Q) any concerns about work opportunities for

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incarcerated persons.
The information shall be maintained in accordance with
standards set by the Department of Corrections, and shall
be made available to the Department's Planning and
Research Division. The point of contact person shall
provide a summary of the results of the review, including
any resolution or recommendations made as a result of
correspondence with the Planning and Research Division of
the Department.
(2) The Department shall provide an annual written
report to the General Assembly and the Governor, with the
first report due no later than January 1, 2023, and
publish the report on its website within 48 hours after
the report is transmitted to the Governor and the General
Assembly. The report shall include a summary of activities
undertaken and completed as a result of submissions to the
point of contact person. The Department of Corrections
shall collect and report the following aggregated and
disaggregated data for each institution and facility and
describe:
(A) the work of the point of contact person;
(B) the general nature of suggestions, complaints,
and other requests submitted to the point of contact
person;
(C) the volume of emails, calls, letters, and
other correspondence received by the point of contact

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person;
(D) the resolutions reached or recommendations
made as a result of the point of contact person's
review;
(E) whether, if an investigation is recommended, a
report of the complaint was forwarded to the Chief
Inspector of the Department or other Department
employee, and the resolution of the complaint, and if
the investigation has not concluded, a detailed status
report on the complaint; and
(F) any recommendations that the point of contact
person has relating to systemic issues in the
Department of Corrections, and any other matters for
consideration by the General Assembly and the
Governor.
The name, address, or other personally identifiable
information of a person who files a complaint, suggestion,
or other request with the point of contact person, and
confidential records shall be redacted from the annual
report and are not subject to disclosure under the Freedom
of Information Act. The Department shall disclose the
records only if required by a court order on a showing of
good cause.
(3) The Department must post in a conspicuous place in
the waiting area of every facility or institution a sign
that contains in bold, black type the following:

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(A) a short statement notifying visitors of the
point of contact person and that person's duty to
receive suggestions, complaints, or other requests;
and
(B) information on how to submit suggestions,
complaints, or other requests to the point of contact
person.
(j) Menstrual hygiene products shall be available, as
needed, free of charge, at all institutions and facilities of
the Department for all committed persons who menstruate. In
this subsection (j), "menstrual hygiene products" means
tampons and sanitary napkins for use in connection with the
menstrual cycle.
(Source: P.A. 102-1082, eff. 6-10-22; 102-1111, eff. 6-1-23;
103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-331, eff. 1-1-24; revised 7-22-24.)