(50 ILCS 705/10.21)

Sec. 10.21. Training; sexual assault and sexual abuse.

(a) The Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall conduct or approve training programs in trauma-informed responses and investigations of sexual assault and sexual abuse, which include, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) recognizing the symptoms of trauma;

(2) understanding the role trauma has played in a victim's life;

(3) responding to the needs and concerns of a victim;

(4) delivering services in a compassionate, sensitive, and nonjudgmental manner;

(5) interviewing techniques in accordance with the curriculum standards in subsection (f) of this Section;

(6) understanding cultural perceptions and common myths of sexual assault and sexual abuse;

(7) report writing techniques in accordance with the curriculum standards in subsection (f) of this Section; and

(8) recognizing special sensitivities of victims due to: age, including those under the age of 13; gender; or other qualifications.

(b) This training must be presented in all full and part-time basic law enforcement academies on or before July 1, 2018.

(c) Agencies employing law enforcement officers must present this training to all law enforcement officers within 3 years after January 1, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 99-801) and must present in-service training on sexual assault and sexual abuse response and report writing training requirements every 3 years.

(d) Agencies employing law enforcement officers who conduct sexual assault and sexual abuse investigations must provide specialized training to these officers on sexual assault and sexual abuse investigations within 2 years after January 1, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 99-801) and must present in-service training on sexual assault and sexual abuse investigations to these officers every 3 years.

(e) Instructors providing this training shall have successfully completed training on evidence-based, trauma-informed, victim-centered response to cases of sexual assault and sexual abuse and have experience responding to sexual assault and sexual abuse cases.

(f) The Board shall adopt rules, in consultation with the Office of the Illinois Attorney General and the Illinois State Police, to determine the specific training requirements for these courses, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) evidence-based curriculum standards for report writing and immediate response to sexual assault and sexual abuse, including trauma-informed, victim-centered, age sensitive, interview techniques, which have been demonstrated to minimize retraumatization, for probationary police officers and all law enforcement officers; and

(2) evidence-based curriculum standards for trauma-informed, victim-centered, age sensitive investigation and interviewing techniques, which have been demonstrated to minimize retraumatization, for cases of sexual assault and sexual abuse for law enforcement officers who conduct sexual assault and sexual abuse investigations.

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)