(730 ILCS 195/20)

Sec. 20. Reviews of youth deaths.

(a) A mortality review team shall review every death of a youth that occurs within a facility of the Department or as the result of an act or incident occurring within a facility of the Department, including deaths resulting from suspected illness, injury, or self-harm or from an unknown cause.

(b) If the coroner of the county in which a youth died determines that the youth's death was the direct or proximate result of alleged or suspected criminal activity, the mortality review team's investigation shall be in addition to any criminal investigation of the death but shall be limited to a review of systems and practices of the Department. In the course of conducting its review, the team shall obtain assurance from law enforcement officials that acts taken in furtherance of the review will not impair any criminal investigation or prosecution.

(c) A mortality review team's purpose in conducting a review of a youth death is to do the following:

(1) Assist in determining the cause and manner of the youth's death, if requested.

(2) Evaluate any means by which the death might have been prevented, including, but not limited to, the evaluation of the Department's systems for the following:

(A) Training.

(B) Assessment and referral for services.

(C) Communication.

(D) Housing.

(E) Supervision of youth.

(F) Intervention in critical incidents.

(G) Reporting.

(H) Follow-up and mortality review following critical incidents or youth deaths.

(3) Recommend continuing education and training for Department staff.

(4) Make specific recommendations to the Director concerning the prevention of deaths of youth in the Department's custody.

(d) A mortality review team shall review a youth death as soon as practicable and not later than within 90 days after a law enforcement agency's completion of its investigation if the death is the result of alleged or suspected criminal activity. If there has been no investigation by a law enforcement agency, the mortality review team shall review a youth's death within 90 days after obtaining the information necessary to complete the review from the coroner, pathologist, medical examiner, or law enforcement agency, depending on the nature of the case. The team shall meet as needed in person or via teleconference or video conference following appointment of the team members. When necessary and upon request of the team, the Director may extend the deadline for a review up to an additional 90 days.

(Source: P.A. 96-1378, eff. 7-29-10.)