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Justice system

Victims, Witnesses, and Defendants with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

July 2019

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are over-represented in every part of the criminal justice system, including as victims and suspects or defendants. Prosecutors, who may encounter individuals with I/DD in a variety of ways, do not always have a full understanding of these types of disabilities or their potential impact on resolving cases.

BJA-Funded Program Supports Problem-Solving Courts Across Illinois

Trainings provide communities with the tools and knowledge to best serve court participants.

Across Illinois, more than 100 problem-solving courts support individuals with a behavioral or mental health disorder who are involved in the criminal justice system.

When the state began implementing standards for problem-solving courts statewide in 2016, a Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grantee, The Illinois Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health and...