Public Accountability Report

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

The Illinois Human Rights Commission is the adjudicatory body of the Illinois Human Rights Act.  The Illinois Human Rights Act, 775 ILCS 5/1-101, is a state law that makes it illegal to discriminate, harass, sexually harass, or retaliate against a person in employment, housing, access to loans, public places, and education.  The Act protects the following classes of people who share a common identity or trait:  age (40+), ancestry, arrest record (in employment and housing), citizenship status (in employment), color, conviction record (in employment), disability (physical, mental, and association with a person with a disability), familial status (in housing), family responsibilities (in employment), gender identity, immigration status (in housing), marital status, military status, national origin, order of protection status, pregnancy, race (including traits associated with race like hair texture and protective hairstyles), religion, reproductive health decisions, sex, sexual orientation, source of income (in housing), unfavorable military discharge, and work authorization status (in employment).

Adjudication of Civil Rights Complaints

The Commission’s primary function is to provide a neutral and impartial forum to adjudicate discrimination claims.  Among its duties, the Commission renders decisions on discrimination claims, approves settlements, and reviews dismissals of charges of discrimination by the Illinois Department of Human Rights. The Commission’s Executive Director oversees the administration and management of the agency.  The Chair and six Commissioners review adjudicatory decisions, settlements, and dismissals of charges of discrimination, and conduct community outreach.  The Administrative Law Section consists of Administrative Law Judges who preside over discrimination cases and render decisions.  The Office of the General Counsel provides legal services and recommendations for the agency.

Commission Accomplishments

During fiscal year 2025, the Commission received a total of 456 cases, including 41 complaints filed by complainants, 114 complaints filed by the Department, 284 requests for review, 8 defaults, and 9 settlements.  The total number of cases closed or disposed was 469, including 9 administrative closures, 79 final orders and decisions, 13 Department settlements, 307 requests for review, 4 Administrative Law Section settlements, 19 Commission panel or en banc matters, and 38 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 and 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.  At the end fiscal year 2025 or June 30, 2025, TIRC resolved a total of 24 torture claims. 

Funding & Spending

During fiscal year 2025 the Illinois General Assembly appropriated $5.4 million from the General Revenue Fund for operational and contingent expenses, including $3.3 million to HRC and $2.1 million to TIRC. At the end of the fiscal year expenditures totaled $4.5 million, $3.0 million from the HRC appropriation and $1.5 from the TIRC appropriation.