Criminal Justice

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that the penalty for aggravated battery is a Class 2 felony (rather than a Class 3 felony) when the person knows the individual battered to be a judge, State's Attorney, or Assistant State's Attorney: (1) performing his or her official duties; (2) battered to prevent performance of his or her official duties; or (3) battered in retaliation for performing his or her official duties. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Civil Rights Act of 2003. Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Illinois Accountability Act. Provides that a person who claims to have suffered a deprivation of any rights, privileges or immunities under the Illinois Constitution because of acts or omissions of a public body or person acting on behalf of a public body, under color of, or within the course and scope of the authority of a public body may maintain an action to establish liability and recover compensatory damages, punitive damages, and injunctive relief. Provides that in any action filed under the Act, a public body or person acting on behalf of a public body does not enjoy the defense of qualified immunity for causing the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Illinois Constitution. Provides that if the plaintiff prevails in an action under the Act, the public body is liable for reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs. Provides that statutory immunities and limitations on liability, damages, or attorney's fees do not apply to claims brought under the Act. Provides that an action filed under the Act that is pending does not abate upon the death of the plaintiff or defendant. Provides that a judgment awarded under the Act against a person acting on behalf of a public body, under color of, or within the course and scope of the authority of the public body is to be paid by the public body. Provides that the State does not have sovereign immunity for itself or any of its political subdivisions against claims brought the Act. Provides that if there is any conflict between the Act and any other law of this State, the amendatory Act controls.

Amends the Access to Justice Act. Creates the Remote Filing Task Force of 17 members. Creates an appointment process. Provides that the Task Force shall research and evaluate the existing ability of litigants to file court documents remotely across Illinois, including (1) identifying barriers for pro se litigants, people with a primary language other than English, people in crisis, people with disabilities, and people with low-literacy; (2) research and evaluate approaches to address any barriers identified by the Task Force to increase access and usability to remote filing for all Illinoisans; and (3) make recommendations to reduce barriers for litigants to remotely file court documents and improve access and usability of remote filing statewide. Requires that the Task Force submit a report containing its findings and any recommendations to the Supreme Court and the General Assembly by October 1, 2027. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved on October 2, 2027. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that when a defendant has previously been granted pretrial release for any offense, that pretrial release shall be revoked if the defendant is charged with an offense that is alleged to have occurred within or outside this State during the defendant's pretrial release, regardless of the classification of the offense (rather than when a defendant has previously been granted pretrial release for a felony or Class A misdemeanor, that pretrial release may be revoked only if the defendant is charged with a felony or Class A misdemeanor that is alleged to have occurred during the defendant's pretrial release), after a hearing on the court's own motion or upon the filing of a verified petition by the State.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that upon verified petition by the State, the court shall hold a hearing and may deny a defendant pretrial release if the defendant is charged with stalking or aggravated stalking, and it is alleged that the defendant's pretrial release poses a real and present threat to the safety of a victim of the alleged offense, based on the specific articulable facts of the case (rather than denial of release is necessary to prevent fulfillment of the threat upon which the charge is based).

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2028, a person convicted of a felony, or otherwise under sentence in a correctional institution, shall have his or her right to vote restored and shall be eligible to vote not later than 14 days following his or her conviction. Provides that a person who is serving a sentence in a correctional institution starting prior to January 1, 2027 shall have his or her right to vote restored not later than January 14, 2028. Provides that a person may not be denied the right to vote because of a past criminal conviction. Provides that each local election authority shall coordinate with the correctional institution, Illinois Department of Corrections, and other correctional agencies incarcerating eligible voters to facilitate voting by mail for those voters eligible to vote in that election jurisdiction who are incarcerated in the correctional institution. Provides that the Attorney General, any individual aggrieved by a violation of these provisions, any entity whose membership includes individuals aggrieved by a violation of these provisions, any entity whose mission would be frustrated by a violation of these provisions, or any entity that would expend resources in order to fulfill its mission as a result of a violation of these provisions may file an action in a court of competent jurisdiction. Provides that the Act is intended to benefit and protect the rights of individual voters and to provide a remedy for infringing on the rights granted under this Act. Amends the Re-Entering Citizens Civics Education Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Reintegration and Civic Empowerment Act. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall conduct the civics peer education program each of the 3 sessions not less than twice a month at each correctional institution totaling not less than 6 sessions per month at each correctional institution. Provides that the civics peer education program and workshops must be made available to all committed persons regardless of the date they were first committed or the length of their sentence. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and the Unified Code of Corrections to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2028.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 and the Unified Code of Corrections. Eliminates felony murder as an element of first degree murder. Creates felony murder as a separate class of felony. Provides that a person commits felony murder when he or she, acting alone or with one or more participants, commits or attempts to commit a forcible felony, other than second degree murder, and in the course of or in furtherance of that crime or flight from that crime, he or she or another participant causes the death of a person, other than one of the participants. Provides that the sentence of imprisonment for felony murder shall be a determinate sentence of not less than 8 years and not more than 40 year, subject to the parole review provisions for persons who committed the offense when under 21 years of age. Provides that an extended term sentence for felony murder shall be not less than 16 years and not more than 80 years. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that the State's Attorney may file a written petition, at any time prior to commencement of the minor's trial, to designate the proceeding as an extended jurisdiction juvenile prosecution when the petition alleges the commission by a minor 15 (rather than 13) years of age or older of any offense that would be a felony if committed by an adult. Provides that, upon filing of a petition, the judge shall conduct a hearing at which he or she shall first determine whether there is probable cause to believe that the allegations in the petition and motion are true. Provides that, if probable cause is found, the judge may enter an order designating the proceeding as an extended jurisdiction juvenile proceeding if the judge makes a finding based on clear and convincing evidence that sentencing under the Unified Code of Corrections may be appropriate for the minor based on an evaluation of certain factors. Provides that the judge shall consider: (1) the minor's age, impetuosity, and level of maturity at the time of the offense, including the ability to consider risks and consequences of behavior, and any presence of cognitive or developmental disability, or both, including if a comprehensive mental health evaluation of the minor was conducted by a qualified mental health professional, the outcome of the evaluation; and (2) the history of the minor, including the minor's family, home environment, educational and social background, including any history of parental neglect, domestic or sexual violence, sexual exploitation, physical abuse, or other childhood trauma, including adverse childhood experiences. Makes other changes.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a hate crime is: (1) a Class 2 felony if committed by a person 18 years of age or older while armed with a firearm or if the victim of the hate crime is under 18 years of age; (2) a Class 1 felony if a crime of violence as defined in the Crime Victims Compensation Act is committed against a person by reason of the actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, citizenship, immigration status, or national origin of another individual or group of individuals; or (3) a Class 1 felony for which the person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 4 years and not more than 15 years if a crime of violence that is a Class 1 felony is committed against a victim of a hate crime. Provides that the court may sentence a defendant who committed a hate crime to a term of natural life imprisonment if the underlying crime is first degree murder if the murder was committed by reason of the actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, citizenship, immigration status, or national origin of the victim or victims. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a period of probation, a term of periodic imprisonment or conditional discharge shall not be imposed for a conviction for a hate crime if: (1) committed by a person 18 years of age or older while armed with a firearm or if the victim of the hate crime is under 18 years of age; or (2) a crime of violence is committed against a person by reason of the actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, citizenship, immigration status, or national origin of another individual or group of individuals.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 concerning child sexual abuse material. Provides that if the creator of the images or materials is a minor and the sole subject of the depiction, the minor is not subject to criminal penalties under the statute. Deletes provision that the charge of child sexual abuse material does not apply to the creator of a film, video, photograph, or other similar visual image or depiction in which the creator is the sole subject of the film, video, photograph, or other similar visual image or depiction. Effective immediately.