SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A bill moving in the Illinois House could require the collection and public reporting of demographic data for people in Illinois prisons and county jails. 

Sponsors said lawmakers, state agencies and the public should have accurate and consistent information when making decisions about criminal justice policy, corrections funding and public safety programs.

Some note that this information is already collected, but it is not available for statewide analysis.

"This bill also makes clear that implementation is subject to appropriation," said Rep. Sonya Harper (D-Chicago). "It protects personal privacy and allows the department to develop reporting templates to reduce burden on local facilities."

The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association opposes the idea, as they argue it would be another unfunded mandate for county jails.

"A lot of that information is already being taken care of," said Executive Director Jim Kaitschuk. "I don’t know exactly what this is going to look like, but we currently report deaths in custody to the Department of Corrections. I’m happy to work with the sponsors and talk to her about [whether] there’s something that maybe we can do differently, but for us, this is another local unfunded mandate." 

House Bill 5155 passed out of the House Judiciary Criminal Committee last month on a partisan 10-5 vote and awaits further action on the House floor. The deadline to pass House bills on third reading is April 17.

Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved.