As reported in the Beacon News:

Two bills with origins in the Kane County State's Attorney's Office will become state law on Jan. 1.

House Bill 4450 will amend state law to give victims of crimes more opportunities to recover money from the perpetrators.

The new amendment says crime victims must be notified anytime a perpetrator receives more than $499 in a civil suit against the county jail. The law had previously only notified victims if the money was the result of an inmate's suit against the Illinois prison system, not local jails.

This new notification could help victims of crime pursue civil judgments against perpetrators.

The second amendment to rise out of Kane County — Senate Bill 2135 — enhances the penalties for juveniles who escape from jails or similar facilities.

Right now, a juvenile who escape from jails or prisons; fails to report to jail or prison; escapes from jail or prison employees; or escapes from electronic home monitoring is not charged criminally — even though adults who did the same thing would be charged, police said.

The new amended law would allow the juveniles to be charged with escaping, prosecutors said. They could be charged with a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the severity.

"This office is always searching to improve the criminal code if its effect is to further protect our citizens," Kane County State's Attorney John Barsanti said. "The tireless and always helpful legislators must also be applauded."