(a) This Section is intended to encourage the use of restorative justice practices by providing a privilege for participation in such practices and ensuring that anything said or done during the practice, or in anticipation of or as a follow-up to the practice, is privileged and may not be used in any future proceeding unless the privilege is waived by the informed consent of the party or parties covered by the privilege. The General Assembly affords this privilege in recognition of restorative justice as a powerful tool in addressing the needs of victims, offenders, and the larger community in the process of repairing the fabric of community peace. The General Assembly encourages residents of this State to employ restorative justice practices, not only in justiciable matters, but in all aspects of life and law.
8-804.5.Parties to a restorative justice practice.
Article VIII. Evidence · Part 8. Privileged Communications · Last amended 2025 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceStatements and conduct during a restorative justice practice, such as a conference or circle, are privileged and cannot be used in later proceedings unless the protected party knowingly waives the privilege or a listed exception applies.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/8-804.5
(b) As used in this Section: "Circle" means a versatile restorative practice that can be used proactively, to develop relationships and build community, or reactively, to respond to wrongdoing, conflicts, and problems.
"Conference" means a structured meeting between offenders, victims, and both parties' family and friends, in which they deal with the consequences of a crime or wrongdoing and decide how best to repair the harm.
"Facilitator" means a person who is trained to facilitate a restorative justice practice.
"Party" means a person, including a facilitator, an individual who has caused harm, an individual who has been harmed, a community member, and any other participant, who voluntarily consents to participate with others who have agreed to participate in a restorative justice practice.
"Proceeding" means any legal action subject to this Code, including, but not limited to, civil, criminal, juvenile, or administrative hearings.
"Restorative justice practice" or "practice" means a gathering, such as a conference or circle, in which parties who have caused harm or who have been harmed and community stakeholders collectively gather to identify and repair harm to the extent possible, address trauma, reduce the likelihood of further harm, and strengthen community ties by focusing on the needs and obligations of all parties involved through a participatory process.
(c) Anything said or done during or in preparation for a restorative justice practice or as a follow-up to that practice, or the fact that the practice has been planned or convened, is privileged and cannot be referred to, used, or admitted in any civil, criminal, juvenile, or administrative proceeding unless the privilege is waived, during the proceeding or in writing, by the party or parties protected by the privilege. Privileged information is not subject to discovery or disclosure in any judicial or extrajudicial proceedings.
Any waiver of privilege is limited to the participation and communication of the waiving party only, and the participation or communications of any other participant remain privileged unless waived by the other participant.
(d) Evidence that is otherwise admissible or subject to discovery does not become inadmissible or protected from discovery solely because it was discussed or used in a restorative justice practice.
(e) The legitimacy of a restorative justice practice, if challenged in any civil, juvenile, criminal, or administrative proceeding, shall be determined by a judge. In a hearing conducted pursuant to this subsection, the judge may consider information that would otherwise be privileged to the extent that the information is probative of the issue.
(f) The privilege afforded by this Section does not apply if:
(1) disclosure is necessary to prevent death, great bodily harm, or the commission of a crime;
(2) necessary to comply with another law; or (3) a court, tribunal, or administrative body requires a report on a restorative justice practice, but such report shall be limited to the fact that a practice has taken place, an opinion regarding the success of the practice, and whether further restorative justice practices are expected. (g) This Section applies to all restorative justice practices that are convened on or after July 15, 2021 (the effective date of 102-100).
Plain-English Summary
Section 8-804.5 creates a privilege for participation in restorative justice practices, which the statute defines to include a "circle" (a versatile practice for building community or responding to wrongdoing) and a "conference" (a structured meeting between offenders, victims, and their family and friends to address the consequences of a crime and decide how to repair the harm). A "party" is anyone, including a facilitator, who voluntarily consents to participate, and a "proceeding" covers any legal action under the Code, including civil, criminal, juvenile, or administrative hearings.
Anything said or done during, in preparation for, or as follow-up to a restorative justice practice, or even the fact that a practice was planned or convened, is privileged and cannot be referred to, used, or admitted in a civil, criminal, juvenile, or administrative proceeding unless the protected party waives the privilege, during the proceeding or in writing. A waiver by one participant only releases that participant's own participation and communications; other participants' contributions stay privileged unless they separately waive. Evidence otherwise admissible or discoverable does not lose that status merely because it was discussed or used during a restorative justice practice, and if the legitimacy of a practice is challenged, a judge decides the question and may consider otherwise-privileged information to the extent it is probative of that issue.
The privilege does not apply if disclosure is necessary to prevent death, great bodily harm, or the commission of a crime, if necessary to comply with another law, or if a court, tribunal, or administrative body requires a report on the practice, though any such report is limited to the fact that a practice took place, an opinion on its success, and whether further practices are expected. The section applies to restorative justice practices convened on or after July 15, 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the restorative justice privilege in Illinois protect?
Section 8-804.5 protects anything said or done during, in preparation for, or as follow-up to a restorative justice practice like a circle or conference, as well as the fact that a practice was planned or convened, from being referred to, used, or admitted in a later civil, criminal, juvenile, or administrative proceeding.
Can a participant waive the restorative justice privilege for everyone involved?
No. A waiver only releases the participation and communications of the waiving party; other participants' contributions remain privileged unless they separately waive the privilege themselves.
Does evidence become privileged just because it was discussed during a restorative justice practice?
No. Section 8-804.5(d) says evidence that is otherwise admissible or subject to discovery does not become inadmissible or protected from discovery solely because it was discussed or used in a restorative justice practice.
When does the restorative justice privilege not apply?
It does not apply if disclosure is necessary to prevent death, great bodily harm, or the commission of a crime, if necessary to comply with another law, or when a court, tribunal, or administrative body requires a limited report on whether a practice occurred, its success, and whether further practices are expected.
Who decides whether a restorative justice practice was legitimate if that is disputed?
A judge decides the legitimacy of a restorative justice practice if it is challenged in a civil, juvenile, criminal, or administrative proceeding, and the judge may consider otherwise-privileged information to the extent it is probative of that question.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 104-417, eff. 8-15-25.)
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Compiled Statutes, published by the
Illinois Compiled Statutes, Illinois General Assembly / Legislative Reference Bureau. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: restorative justice privilege illinoiscircle conference privilege illinois law8-804.5 illinois evidencerestorative justice confidentiality statute