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Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council

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The Role of SPAC

The Sentencing Policy Advisory Council (SPAC) is Illinois’ non-partisan, independent sentencing commission. The Council was developed by the Criminal Law Edit, Alignment and Reform (CLEAR) Commission to bring together diverse viewpoints and is mandated to analyze the systemwide consequences of sentencing policy decisions. SPAC is also mandated to address the effective allocation of resources to support policy changes. SPAC reports directly to the Illinois General Assembly, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the Governor. See 730 ILCS 5/5-8-8.

In every aspect of its work, SPAC mindful of the purposes of sentencing in Illinois:

  • Prescribe sanctions proportionate to the seriousness of the offenses and permit the recognition of differences in rehabilitation possibilities among individual offenders;
  • Forbid and prevent the commission of offenses;
  • Prevent arbitrary or oppressive treatment of persons adjudicated offenders or delinquents; and
  • Restore offenders to useful citizenship. See 730 ILCS 5/1-1-2.

The members of SPAC represent diverse perspectives and experiences from across the criminal justice system. SPAC members include legislators, retired judges, the Illinois Attorney General, prosecutors, defense attorneys, representatives of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, law enforcement officials, academics, and a victim of violent crime. The directors of the Illinois State Police, Department of Corrections, Prisoner Review Board, and Criminal Justice Information Authority serve as ex officio members.

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Trends Report 2010 to 2022

This report describes trends in felony sentencing in Illinois in 2010-2022, covering most of SPAC’s existence as the state sentencing commission and just over a decade of changes and reforms to numerous parts of the criminal justice system from January 1st, 2010, through December 31, 2022.
2025 Annual Report

This report satisfies SPAC's statutory mandate to publish an annual report. The 2025 report includes a message from the Executive Director, a summary of agency of activities in 2025, and a list of reports, analyses, and other resources published in 2025.

Public Acts 104th General Assembly (2025 Session)

This document provides information about 28 public acts from the 2025 session of the 104th General Assembly. The bills described in this document revise definitions related to criminal offenses, create new criminal offenses, create task forces to study a specific aspect of the criminal justice system, change how criminal justice records and data are stored, and make administrative changes to various State agencies.