Office of the Independent Juvenile Ombudsperson
OIJO
Summary
The Office of the Independent Juvenile Ombudsperson (OIJO) was created by P.A. 98-1032 (2014) under 730 ILCS 5/3-2.7 and is co-aligned with the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ). The Ombudsperson is appointed by the Governor and may be removed only for incompetency, malfeasance, neglect of duty, or felony conviction. The office has full and unannounced access to all IDJJ facilities and youth at any time, and may review court files and IDJJ records. Cases of severe abuse, injury, or staff misconduct must be immediately reported to the Governor and IDJJ Director; annual reports are submitted to the Governor and General Assembly. The Ombudsperson has no subpoena power and no formal discipline authority, but refers criminal behavior to ISP and ethics violations to the Executive IG.
Independence Scorecard
| Appointment | Executive appointment |
|---|---|
| Term length | 4 years |
| Removal standard | For cause only |
| Budget independence | Executive discretion |
| Subpoena power | No |
| Compel testimony | No |
| Records access | Full access |
| Public reports required | Yes |
| Pre-publication review | None — reports published directly |
Statute
- Name
- Unified Code of Corrections — Independent Juvenile Ombudsperson
- Citation
- 730 ILCS 5/3-2.7
- Full text
- Full text of law →
Jurisdiction scope
Youth committed to the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ); IDJJ facilities, staff, and programs