CHICAGO, July 27, 2021 — Illinois took a bold step in protecting restorative justice circles earlier this month with the help of Matt Glavin, a member in the Chicago office of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies. Glavin played an essential pro bono role in working with the Juvenile Justice Initiative (JJI) to pass Illinois Senate Bill 64, which was signed into law by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.

“Matt’s relationships were essential in helping us build support with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle for this important criminal justice reform bill,” said Luis Klein, Policy Director of the JJI. “These restorative justice practices have been in our community across the state for decades in church basements, community centers, and now even in our courts.”

SB64 looks to boost the effectiveness of restorative justice — a system of criminal justice that focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large — by providing that anything said or done during the course of restorative justice, cannot be used in court proceedings unless the privilege is waived.