| Program Goals and Objectives |
- The LAS will provide otherwise unavailable legal advocacy for vulnerable Illinois citizens with disabilities.
- LAS attorneys will accept court appointments to represent individuals with disabilities in trial and appellate courts, providing the vital due process component of the judicial system and ensuring the protection of constitutional and statutory rights.
- The LAS will provide services to those persons with disabilities in greatest economic need. The LAS will provide sufficient and accurate information to the Office of Fiscal Operations for fee collections in appropriate cases, consistent with fee assessment guidelines. The LAS will facilitate cost-effective representation of individuals with mental disabilities through referral of fee-generating clients whenever possible.
- The LAS will handle Lee-Wesley Consent Decree referrals.
- The LAS will provide assistance with advance directives.
- The LAS will conserve state resources by monitoring the cost to serve each client and handle each case.
- LAS representation will impact and improve case law to benefit persons with disabilities.
- The LAS will shape the contours of the law consistent with enhancing the rights of individuals facing involuntary hospitalization and treatment by continuing to pursue issues of merit and legal significance in the trial and appellate courts.
- LAS staff will identify developing trends to facilitate constructive presentations to courts on behalf of clients.
- The LAS will maintain a Mental Health Decisions Outline on the Commission's web page to provide access to relevant decisions to attorneys, judges, and others.
- LAS attorneys will maintain awareness of developing trends and arguments by individual periodic reviews and updates of a central electronic Appellate Update.
- The LAS will continue to provide quality legal services to persons with mental disabilities.
- LAS staff will remain current in mental health law, civil practice, and related areas through in-house and professional affiliation training.
- LAS staff will attend training on special education.
- The LAS will remain as current as possible on information technology necessary to conduct efficient legal research and will recommend upgrades, programs, equipment, and training opportunities to the Office of Information Technology and test programs as requested.
- The LAS will provide effective information and referral services.
- LAS staff will maintain a current list of, and links with, legal and other service providers. The LAS will seek to augment the number of referral options available for use by the centralized intake system.
- LAS staff will provide public information to interested groups and individuals about LAS services and availability, and the Commission generally.
- LAS staff will refer media inquiries to the Commission's Public Information Officer and notify the Public Information Officer of public information opportunities and efforts.
- The LAS will enhance knowledge of important disabilities rights cases for the general bar through the Commission's web page.
- The LAS will empower individuals with mental disabilities in the exercise of self-advocacy by providing information about rights and responsibilities on request, including assistance with and advice regarding advance directives for health care.
- The LAS will actively participate in the legislative process.
- The LAS will provide advice and assistance to legislators, participating in meetings with legislators or pursuant to committee assignments as requested during each fiscal year.
- The LAS will monitor legislation impacting the due process rights of persons with disabilities on a weekly basis during the legislative session.
- As necessary, the LAS will propose legislation in an effort to achieve judicial and legal service delivery economy while protecting the due process rights of persons with mental disabilities.
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Public Accountability Report
