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HR 815

IDOC/OAC-CORRECTIONS MEM'L

104th Regular Session Introduced by Jason Bunting and 9 co-sponsors

The bill urges establishing a Corrections Fallen Heroes Memorial on the Illinois Capitol grounds to publicly honor correctional officers who die or are harmed in the line of duty.

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Martha Deuter
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Bill Summary · HR 815

Summary of HR 815 (104th Illinois General Assembly)

Title

IDOC/OAC-CORRECTIONS MEM'L

Purpose and Intent

  • The resolution urges the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) and the Office of the Architect of the Capitol (OAC) to establish a Corrections Fallen Heroes Memorial on the Illinois State Capitol grounds.
  • It builds on concerns about the current Memorial Wall for IDOC fallen heroes, its location, and its accessibility, and it frames the memorial as a public recognition of the risks and sacrifices of correctional staff.

Key Provisions

  • Recognition of the Memorial Wall for IDOC fallen heroes, unveiled May 10, 2001, located on leased land at the IDOC Training Academy in Springfield.
  • Acknowledgment that IDOC is vacating the current grounds, resulting in the area around the Memorial Wall being unsuitable for public visitation (boarded up, broken glass).
  • Statement that funds exist to support moving the current Memorial Wall or establishing a new Corrections Memorial through contributions to the Illinois Correctional Employees Memorial Association.
  • Comparison to existing memorials: notes that the Illinois Capitol grounds already feature permanent memorial structures for firefighters and police officers who died in the line of duty.
  • Statistics provided to emphasize the significance of correctional officers' risks (average life expectancy of 59 years; suicide and depression concerns; Illinois ranks high in correctional officer line-of-duty deaths nationally).
  • The resolution calls for the creation of a Corrections Fallen Heroes Memorial on the State Capitol grounds, funded and managed as appropriate by IDOC and OAC.

Who/What Would Be Affected

  • IDOC: Directed to consider and support the establishment of a Corrections Fallen Heroes Memorial at the Capitol and to coordinate with the OAC.
  • Office of the Architect of the Capitol (OAC): Expected to participate in planning and implementing the memorial on Capitol grounds.
  • Illinois Correctional Employees Memorial Association: May receive contributions to support moving or establishing the memorial.
  • General public and state workforce: Improved public visibility and recognition of correctional officers' sacrifices through a Capitol memorial.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Referred to Rules Committee as of 2026-04-16.
  • Process: As a House Resolution, the bill expresses intent and requests action rather than creating new law. If adopted, it signals support for relocating or creating the memorial and may prompt coordination between IDOC, OAC, and related memorial associations.
  • Sponsorship: Principal sponsor Rep. Gregg Johnson; co-sponsor listed.

Background and Rationale (as stated in the resolution)

  • The Memorial Wall’s current location is on leased land and is not on state-owned property, complicating access as IDOC departs the grounds.
  • Use of Capitol grounds for a dedicated Corrections Fallen Heroes Memorial would align with other on-site memorials for public safety personnel (firefighters and police).
  • The resolution emphasizes the need to honor correctional officers who work in high-risk environments, noting statistics that highlight occupational hazards and mental health concerns.

If you’d like, I can add a side-by-side comparison with existing Capitol memorials or draft potential language for a companion bill that would authorize funding or specific site designation.

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

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