Circuit committee approves December probation reports and county bills after review of caseloads and fees

The 13th Circuit’s committee met Jan. 14, 2026, in LaSalle County and approved the December meeting minutes, payment of December bills and the annual probation report after hearing monthly and annual caseload and budgeting updates.

Susan, probation staff, presented December 2025 statistics for the circuit’s three counties, reporting "for the December 2025 juvenile monthly statistics for LaSalle County, we had 95 active cases" and a circuit total of 132 active juvenile cases. She also said the circuit’s adult caseload for December included 1,273 adults on probation and that probation fees ordered across the circuit for the month totaled $16,250, with $4,752.10 collected.

The annual figures covering Dec. 1, 2024, to Nov. 30, 2025, showed 1,278 adults on probation for the year and year-to-date probation fees ordered across the circuit of $196,118 with $85,043.20 collected, Susan told the committee.

Committee members questioned case length and collections procedures. Doug (committee member) asked whether probation cases could persist for many years; the chair replied that typical probation terms are 48 months but may be extended after violations. Addressing fee collection, the chair said, "We can't hold them out of probation just because they owe money. That can't be a purpose for violation under state statute," and explained unpaid fees are pursued by the circuit clerk and, in some cases, private collection agencies after supervision ends.

Susan gave county-by-county bill totals for December: LaSalle County $7,025.38 (including a $2,773.40 laptop and a $2,000 psychological evaluation), Bureau County $1,778.91 and Grundy County $724.09. The chair reviewed fiscal-year budgets and balances: Bureau County had budgeted $33,000 and expended about $12,007.20 as of November; Grundy County had budgeted $41,000 and expended about $26,002.56 to date. The committee discussed how shared costs are allocated: LaSalle County pays 56.11% of certain circuit-level costs, Grundy 26.88% and Bureau 17.01.

On staffing, the chair said Bureau and Grundy counties are now fully staffed for probation officers while South County still had two open positions and was conducting interviews. He also reported that probation officers ratified a contract in December and that a first-year salary adjustment will be applied to improve pay alignment with similar circuits.

The committee moved and voted — by voice vote and with no recorded opposition in the transcript — to accept the December probation report, pay the December bills and accept the annual report. The chair announced the next meeting for Feb. 11 and adjourned the session.

What’s next: the committee will reconvene Feb. 11; staff will continue to monitor caseloads, collections and budget variances and return with updated figures and any follow-up recommendations.