Criminal Justice

in committee · Illinois · House Mar 21, 2025

HB 3371: FELONY CHARGED AS MISDEMEANOR

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that a State's Attorney may charge a felony as a misdemeanor, in the State's Attorney's discretion.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows prosecutors to charge felonies as misdemeanors, reducing potential penalties and aligning with reform goals of less severe sentencing for certain offenses.85% confidence

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in committee · Illinois · House Jan 28, 2025

HB 1426: JUV CT-EXCLUDED JURISDICTION

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Repeals a provision excluding certain minors accused of committing specified crimes from the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRepeals exclusion of minors from juvenile court, expanding rehabilitation-focused jurisdiction instead of adult courts per juvenile justice reform principles.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Illinois · Senate Jan 24, 2025

SB 279: DOM VIOLENCE-ORDER-EXPUNGE

Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that upon petition, the court shall order that a person against whom an emergency order of protection was issued shall have all records related to the emergency order expunged (unless the person violated the order) from the court's records and from the Illinois State Police's Law Enforcement Agencies Data System if: (1) the person who sought the emergency order fails to seek a plenary order of protection before the emergency order expires; (2) there is an agreed dismissal; or (3) the court denies the issuance of a plenary order of protection following the emergency order. Provides that the clerk shall immediately file the expungement order and all records to be expunged shall be expunged no later than 3 business days after the order. Effective June 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expunges domestic violence protection records to reduce stigma and protect civil rights, aligning with criminal justice reform by limiting unnecessary criminal records.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Policing

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in committee · Illinois · House Mar 21, 2025

HB 1825: CRIM-ACCOUNTABILITY-AGGRESSOR

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person is legally accountable for the conduct of another when, acting as an aggressor as provided in the Code, he or she causes another to use force in defense of himself or another and that use of force is the proximate cause of injury to a third party.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies aggressor liability for third-party injuries caused by defensive force, enhancing accountability in criminal cases per Code amendment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · Illinois · Senate Apr 11, 2025

SB 1655: JUV CT-FITNESS TO STAND TRIAL

Amends the Delinquent Minors Article of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Adds a Part concerning Fitness to Stand Trial. Specifies the unfitness standard for a minor. Sets forth procedures to raise the issue of the unfitness of a minor. Specifies the burden of proof and a presumption. Provides requirements for a fitness evaluation and hearing to determine the fitness of a minor. Provides the requirements for the services to attain fitness, the period to obtain fitness, initial and subsequent progress reports, periodic hearings, and in-court assistance to render a minor fit. Specifies time credit and sentencing guidelines for a minor who attains fitness. Provides for the legal disposition of a minor if fitness cannot be attained. Contains other provisions. Contains a severability provision. Effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds procedural safeguards for minors' right to fair trial via fitness evaluations and hearings, protecting defendant rights in court process.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Sentencing

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in committee · Illinois · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 1429: BILL OF RIGHTS-HOMELESS

Amends the Bill of Rights for the Homeless Act. Prohibits the State or a unit of local government from creating or enforcing policies or ordinances imposing fines or criminal penalties against people experiencing unsheltered homelessness for occupying or engaging in life-sustaining activities on public property. Provides exceptions to maintain access to property or address risks to public health and safety. Creates a necessity defense for charges alleging violation of laws criminalizing life-sustaining activities while the individual was experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Defines terms. Limits the exercise of concurrent home rule powers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits criminal penalties for homelessness-related activities, reducing unnecessary criminalization and protecting civil rights - core criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits criminal penalties for homelessness-related activities, directly protecting unhoused individuals' rights to basic life sustenance on public property, aligning with housing protection indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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in committee · Illinois · House Mar 4, 2025

HB 4001: CRIM PRO-ARREST-OTHER COUNTY

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that, if a person is arrested in any county and the prosecutor files criminal charges based on that arrest and warrants for arrest issued by any other Illinois county exist for that person, then the court in the arresting county shall first hold, for that person, a detention hearing or other conditions of release hearing for the newly filed charges. Provides that, if a person has a warrant in another county for an offense, then, no later than 5 calendar days after the end of any detention issued on the charge in the arresting county, the county in which the warrant is outstanding may authorize the person's release from custody pursuant to a notice to appear in court in the issuing county on a date and time provided by the court in the issuing county. Makes other changes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires detention hearing for new charges before other warrants, protecting defendant rights by prioritizing current case proceedings.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Illinois · Senate Mar 4, 2025

SB 63: JUV CT-EXCLUDED JURISDICTION

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Repeals a provision excluding certain minors accused of committing specified crimes from the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRepeals exclusion of minors from juvenile court, expanding jurisdiction for rehabilitation-focused handling instead of adult prosecution, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Illinois · House Mar 21, 2025

HB 3714: CD CORR-UNCONDITIONAL SENTENCE

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that if the defendant has been incarcerated for a Class 4 felony or a Class A, B, or C misdemeanor and has been released from imprisonment, the court shall impose an unconditional sentence in any case in which the court is of the opinion that no proper purpose would be served by imposing any condition upon the defendant's release. Provides that when an unconditional sentence is imposed for a felony, the court shall set forth in the record the reasons for its action.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates unconditional sentences when conditions serve no purpose, reducing unnecessary restrictions that can lead to reincarceration and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to lower recidivism.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Illinois · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 2165: CRIM CD-BRIBERY&LEG MISCONDUCT

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that bribery and legislative misconduct include the receipt of property or personal advantage after the improper act has been performed (rather than just the intent to influence the improper act). Provides that the provisions do not apply to the promise, tender, acceptance, or receipt of any campaign contributions that are permissible under the Election Code.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends Criminal Code to strengthen bribery/misconduct laws by including post-act receipt of benefits, enhancing legislative accountability without restricting campaign contributions.85% confidence

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