U.S. Department
of Justice
Sangamon County Sheriff's Office, Sangamon County Central Dispatch System, and Sangamon County
On January 16, 2025, the United States entered an agreement with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, the Sangamon County Central Dispatch System, and Sangamon County, Illinois, under Title II of the ADA and other federal statutes regarding race and disability discrimination in the provision of policing and dispatch services. The United States investigated after a Black woman with a mental health disability was killed by an Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office deputy. Under the agreement, the entities will review and update policies, rules, and procedures and provide training on a variety of topics, including non-discriminatory policing and interactions with individuals with behavioral health disabilities. The agreement requires the development of a mobile crisis team program, which will include trained behavioral health staff who timely respond to individuals needing urgent behavioral health assistance. The agreement sets forth a framework for data collection and reporting, among other provisions.