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HB 5121

FAMILY JUSTICE CENTERS ACT

104th Regular Session Introduced by Kelly Cassidy

Creates family justice centers in Illinois to coordinate domestic violence, child abuse, and crime victim services in centralized locations improving safety and access.

Assigned to Restorative Justice & Public Safety Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 5121

Legislative bill overview

HB 5121, the Family Justice Centers Act, establishes dedicated centers in Illinois designed to provide coordinated services for families experiencing domestic violence, child abuse, and related crimes. The bill centralizes victim support, law enforcement coordination, and social services in one accessible location to streamline responses and improve outcomes for affected families.

Why is this important

Family Justice Centers consolidate fragmented services that victims typically navigate separately—police reports, counseling, legal aid, shelter—reducing trauma and increasing access to help. This approach has shown success in other states by improving victim safety outcomes, increasing prosecution rates, and reducing repeat victimization through better coordination between agencies.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding requirements: Establishing and maintaining these centers requires significant state or local funding; unclear how costs will be allocated between state and municipalities or sustained long-term
  • Privacy and data-sharing concerns: Centralizing family information across law enforcement, social services, and courts raises questions about confidentiality protections and how information is shared between agencies
  • Geographic accessibility: Rural and underserved areas may struggle to establish centers, potentially creating unequal access to services across the state

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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