Public Accountability Report

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

The Illinois Human Rights Commission (HRC) is dedicated to promoting freedom from unlawful discrimination as defined by the Illinois Human Rights Act, 775 ILCS 5/1-101, et., seq. (the “Act”). The Act forbids discrimination based on: age (40+), ancestry, arrest record, citizenship status (in employment), color, conviction record, disability (physical, mental, and association with a person with a disability), familial status (in real estate  transactions), gender identity, marital status, military status, national origin, order of protection status, pregnancy, race (including traits associated with race like hair texture and protective hairstyles), religion, retaliation, sex, sexual harassment (in employment and elementary, secondary, and higher education), sexual orientation, source of income (in real estate transactions), unfavorable military discharge, and work authorization status (in employment). HRC’s single program is adjudication of civil rights complaints under the Act through a fair, neutral, and efficient forum.

Adjudication of Civil Rights Complaints

HRC’s primary function is to provide a neutral and impartial forum to adjudicate complaints of discrimination in the following ways: (1) for HRC’s Administrative Law Judges to conduct public hearings and render decisions on complaints filed with the Commission by the Human Rights Department (Department) and individual complainants, (2) to review appeals from complainants of charges dismissed by the Department, (3) to review appeals from respondents of notices of default issued by the Department, (4) to approve settlements submitted by the Department and by HRC staff, (5) to determine en banc petitions filed with HRC, and (6) to hear and determine a variety of other motions and petitions filed with HRC.

HRC Accomplishments

During fiscal year 2024 HRC received a total of 381 complaints, including: 30 filed by complaints, 77 Department filed complaints, 258 Requests for Review, 5 Defaults and 11 Settlements.  The total number of complaints closed or disposed of totaled 447 including 9 administrative closures, 76 Final Orders and Decisions, 8 Department of Human Rights settlements, 235 requests for review, 6 Administrative Law Section settlements, 27 full Commission En Banc matters, and 86 notices of no exceptions.

TORTURE INQUIRY & RELIEF COMMISSION

In 2009 the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission (TIRC) was established under the Human Rights Commission to address the problem of coerced confessions by the Chicago Police Department related to former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge. TIRC is an independent investigatory body tasked with separate duties and responsibilities with its own executive director and governing board that is empowered to conduct inquiries into claims of torture. TIRC investigates each claim of torture and makes a recommendation as to whether there is sufficient credible evidence of torture to merit judicial review.

The claim filing period ended on August 10, 2019, as mandated by the Torture Inquiry & Relief Act. The universe of torture claims TIRC investigates is finite – the statutory deadline prohibits TIRC from considering any additional torture claims and it cannot accept new filings for investigation. During the filing period TIRC received a total of 625 claims of torture. It has referred 66 claims to circuit court for judicial review on whether the underlying criminal conviction was obtained from a tortured confession.

TIRC Accomplishments

Each individual torture investigation is a complex process, and presents its own unique facts, both in the details of the underlying crime and the torture alleged. Further, most of the alleged incidents of torture occurred between 20 to 40 years ago, which presents additional challenges.  As of November 2024, TIRC reduced the number of pending claims to 408.

Funding & Spending

During fiscal year 2024 the Illinois General Assembly appropriated $4.8 million from the General Revenue Fund for operational and contingent expenses, including $3.2 million to HRC and $1.6 to TIRC. At the end of the fiscal year expenditures totaled $4.2 million, $2.8 million from the HRC appropriation and $1.4 from the TIRC appropriation.