Illinois State Police - Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act

This presentation will cover Illinois compiled statutes related to the IL Sex Offender Registry and the M**der and Violent Offender Against Youth Registry. Sex offender registry requirements for adjudicated delinquents (juveniles) will be covered as well as residency and loitering restrictions for child sex offenders.

Training location and duration: Auditorium A & B. All attendees should enter through the front door and will be required to sign in at the front desk. Check-in begins at 8:50 am. Training begins at 9 am and will conclude at noon.

Audience: Court Services/Probation, Treatment Providers, Evaluators and other professionals working with this population in Illinois.

Continuing Education: 3 hours training credit will be given. ILATSA is a COPE approved provider. ILATSA is a continuing education provider for LSOTP, LSOE. ILATSA is also a registered CE Social work sponsor #159.001361. Questions about CE's may be directed to [email protected].

Cost: $5 (plus EventBrite fees) for continuing education/certificate processing.

Learning objectives:

• All attendees will understand the legal aspects of the Illinois Statutes and administrative rules that are involved regarding offender registration.
• All attendees will understand their operational role within the process of offender registration that is described within the administrative rules.
• All attendees will understand the basics of the data entered in the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS) regarding offender registration.
• All attendees will be able to use the tools (ISP Website, Guides, Manuals) that ISP has available to assist with the offender registration process.

PRESENTERS:

Captain Scott Watkins, Illinois State Police

Capt. Scott Watkins is a 24-year veteran of LE. Capt. Watkins began his career with the ISP as a patrol officer in District 15 Oakbrook. In May 2005 he transferred to District 18 Litchfield where he served as a Field Training Officer, SFST Instructor, and Juvenile Officer. In April 2007 he was assigned as a Cadet Counselor for Cadet Class 114. After completing this assignment, he transferred from District 18 to the Division of Internal Investigation (DII) Springfield Office where over the next eight years he was promoted to the ranks of Sergeant and Master Sergeant. During his time in DII he served as a Field Training Coordinator, Rules of Conduct Instructor, PFIT Monitor, Field Recruiter, and Cadet/Recruit Class Training Assessor. During his time in DII he served 22 months on the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) Central Illinois Public Corruption Task Force and was a member of the USAO Suspicious Activity Reports Committee. In June 2015 he transferred from DII to the Chief of Staff in the Division of Forensic Services (DFS). While in DFS he served on several ISP Committees as the DFS representative, ISP Merit Board Cadet Applicant Oral Interview Assessor, a Rapid Results Instructor, and was a member on the ISP Command Officers Association (COA) Board of Directors. In September 2016 he was promoted to Lieutenant.

In May 2018 he transferred from DFS to the Training Academy where he served as the Administrative Bureau Chief and Training Bureau Chief. In April 2019 he transferred to the Academy Deputy Commander position. As Academy Deputy Commander he was responsible for oversight of the Training Development Bureau, Physical Skills Bureau, Logistics Bureau, and Recruitment & Substance Testing Bureau. He was a Procedural Justice Instructor and served on several ISP Committees as the Academy representative.

In May 2023 he transferred from the Training Academy to Division of Justice Services (DJS) as the Regulatory Services Bureau Chief where he is responsible for oversight of the Cannabis Control Office and Offender Registration Unit. Capt. Watkins is a certified Physical Security Assessor and in May 2024 was appointed as a member of the Sex Offender Management Board by Governor JB Pritzker.

Capt. Watkins is a member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association, member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), member of the IACP International Manager of Police Academy & College Training Section, member of the IACP State & Provincial Police Academy Directors Section, and member of the Illinois Juvenile Officers Association. Capt. Watkins serves as an out of state assessor for I/O Solutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Special Education specializing in learning disabilities and behavioral disabilities.

Kelly O. Phelps, J.D., R.N., Illinois State Police

Kelly O. Phelps, J.D., R.N., brings a unique and comprehensive background to his role as an offender registration instructor. His distinguished career spans military service as a U.S. Marine and an Army National Guard JAG Officer, coupled with extensive experience in the healthcare sector as a registered nurse, trauma intensive care nurse, a former nursing home administrator, and corporate healthcare operations manager.

Mr. Phelps earned his Juris Doctor from Southern Illinois University School of Law, where he served as the Research Editor for the SIU Law Journal. His legal expertise has been honed through his work as an Illinois Assistant Attorney General, representing numerous state agencies, and as a staff attorney for the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, where he advocated for individuals with severe mental illness. Mr. Phelps served as Interim Director for the Office of State Guardian. He has also served as an Administrative Law Judge and as Policy Division member for the Department of Children and Family Services.

Currently, Mr. Phelps serves as the Supervisor for the Illinois State Police Offender Registration Unit. In this role, he is responsible for ensuring the timely, accurate, and public availability of offender information to enhance community safety. His responsibilities include developing and delivering statewide training for law enforcement partners on registration and monitoring requirements, ensuring registrant compliance, and assisting in the apprehension of absconded registrants. Mr. Phelps’s diverse experience in law, healthcare, and public service provides him with a robust understanding of the complex issues surrounding sex offender registration, making him an invaluable resource for law enforcement professionals across Illinois.

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