HB5460 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB098 17596 RLC 52707 b

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB5460

Introduced , by Rep. Kenneth Dunkin

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

720 ILCS 5/7-1	from Ch. 38, par. 7-1
725 ILCS 5/116-2.2 new
725 ILCS 120/4.5
730 ILCS 5/5-5-3.1	from Ch. 38, par. 1005-5-3.1

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person is also justified in the use of deadly force if he or she is or has been the victim of domestic violence and the effects of the domestic violence cause him or her to have a reasonable belief that the force is necessary to prevent the perpetrator of the domestic violence from causing death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another. Defines "domestic violence". Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Permits a motion for sentence modification for domestic violence victims. Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act to provide for notification by the office of the State's Attorney upon request of the crime victim of any request for resentencing filed by the defendant and of the date, time, and place of any hearing concerning the motion. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that it is a mitigating factor in sentencing if at the time of the offense, the defendant was or had been the victim of domestic violence and the effect of the domestic violence tended to excuse or justify the defendant's criminal conduct.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning criminal law.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Criminal Code of 2012 is amended by changing Section 7-1 as follows:

(720 ILCS 5/7-1) (from Ch. 38, par. 7-1)

Sec. 7-1. Use of force in defense of person.

(a) A person is justified in the use of force against another when and to the extent that he or she reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against such other's imminent use of unlawful force. However, he or she is justified in the use of force which is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm only if (i) he or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another, or the commission of a forcible felony, or if (ii) he or she is or has been the victim of domestic violence and the effects of the domestic violence cause him or her to have a reasonable belief that the force is necessary to prevent the perpetrator of the domestic violence from causing death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another. A "reasonable belief" under clause (ii) of this subsection (a) means a belief that would be held by an individual in that person's situation. For the purposes of clause (ii), "domestic violence" means "abuse" as defined in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986.

(b) In no case shall any act involving the use of force justified under this Section give rise to any claim or liability brought by or on behalf of any person acting within the definition of "aggressor" set forth in Section 7-4 of this Article, or the estate, spouse, or other family member of such a person, against the person or estate of the person using such justified force, unless the use of force involves willful or wanton misconduct.

(Source: P.A. 93-832, eff. 7-28-04.)

Section 10. The Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 is amended by adding Section 116-2.2 as follows:

(725 ILCS 5/116-2.2 new)

Sec. 116-2.2. Motion for sentence modification for domestic violence victims.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Domestic violence" means "abuse" as defined in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986.

"Forcible felony" has the meaning ascribed to the term in Section 2-8 of the Criminal Code of 2012.

(b) A defendant may make a motion for resentencing in the circuit court of the county in which he or she was originally sentenced, when the conviction was for a forcible felony or for solicitation, attempt, or conspiracy to commit a forcible felony; provided that:

(1) at the time of the offense the defendant was or had been the victim of domestic violence;

(2) the effects of the domestic violence tended to excuse or justify the defendant's criminal conduct; and

(3) the motion shall state why the facts giving rise to this motion were not presented at sentencing, and shall be made with due diligence, after the defendant has ceased to be a victim of domestic violence or has sought services for victims of domestic violence, subject to reasonable concerns for the safety of the defendant, family members of the defendant, or other victims of the domestic violence that may be jeopardized by the bringing of the motion, or for other reasons consistent with the purpose of this Section.

(c) The burden of proof is on the defendant to establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, that at the time of the offense the defendant was or had been the victim of domestic violence, and that the effects of the domestic violence tended to excuse or justify the defendant's criminal conduct. Evidence of the domestic violence may include, but is not limited to:

(1) civil or criminal court records, proceedings, pre-sentence reports, social services records, hospital records, sworn statements from a witness, law enforcement records, domestic incident reports, police reports, witness statements prepared or elicited by law enforcement officers, or orders of protection;

(2) local and Department of Corrections records; or

(3) verification of consultation with a licensed medical or mental health care provider, employee of a court acting within the scope of his or her employment, clergy, attorney, social worker, or rape crisis counselor, advocate from an agency assisting victims of domestic violence, or other professional from whom the defendant has sought assistance in addressing the trauma associated with domestic violence. Alternatively, the court may consider any other evidence it deems of sufficient credibility and probative value in determining whether the defendant was or had been the victim of domestic violence at the time of the offense, and whether the effects of the domestic violence tended to excuse or justify the defendant's criminal conduct. This other evidence may include but is not limited to the court file of the proceeding in which the defendant was convicted, any action taken by an appellate court in the proceeding, and any transcripts of the proceeding. In its discretion the court may order the defendant brought before the court for the hearing.

(d) Within 90 days after the filing and docketing of a motion, the court shall examine the motion and enter an order on the motion under this Section.

(1) If the defendant is without counsel and alleges that he or she is without means to procure counsel, he or she shall state whether or not he or she wishes counsel to be appointed to represent the defendant. If appointment of counsel is requested, the court shall appoint counsel if satisfied that the defendant has no means to procure counsel.

(2) If the court determines the motion is frivolous or is patently without merit, it shall dismiss the motion in a written order, specifying the findings of fact and conclusions of law it made in reaching its decision. The order of dismissal is a final judgment and shall be served upon the defendant by certified mail within 10 days of its entry.

(3) If the motion is not dismissed under this Section, the court shall order the motion to be docketed for further consideration and hearing within 180 days of the filing of the motion. Continuances may be granted as the court deems appropriate.

(e) Within 30 days after the making of an order under paragraph (3) of subsection (d) or within any further time as the court may set, the State shall answer or move to dismiss. In the event that a motion to dismiss is filed and denied, the State must file an answer within 20 days after the denial. No other or further pleadings shall be filed except as the court may order on its own motion or on that of either party. The court may in its discretion grant leave, at any stage of the proceeding prior to entry of judgment, to withdraw the defendant's motion. The court may in its discretion make the order as to amendment of the motion or any other pleading, or as to pleading over, or filing further pleadings, or extending the time of filing any pleading other than the original motion, as shall be appropriate, just, and reasonable and as generally provided in civil cases.

(f) The court may grant the motion if it determines that at the time of the offense the defendant was or had been the victim of domestic violence, and the effects of the domestic violence tended to excuse or justify the defendant's criminal conduct.

(g) If the court finds in favor of the defendant, it may reduce the sentence in accordance with the current factors in mitigation in sentencing under Section 5-5-3.1 of the Unified Code of Corrections, as may be necessary and proper.

Section 15. The Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act is amended by changing Section 4.5 as follows:

(725 ILCS 120/4.5)

Sec. 4.5. Procedures to implement the rights of crime victims. To afford crime victims their rights, law enforcement, prosecutors, judges and corrections will provide information, as appropriate of the following procedures:

(a) At the request of the crime victim, law enforcement authorities investigating the case shall provide notice of the status of the investigation, except where the State's Attorney determines that disclosure of such information would unreasonably interfere with the investigation, until such time as the alleged assailant is apprehended or the investigation is closed.

(a-5) When law enforcement authorities re-open a closed case to resume investigating, they shall provide notice of the re-opening of the case, except where the State's Attorney determines that disclosure of such information would unreasonably interfere with the investigation.

(b) The office of the State's Attorney:

(1) shall provide notice of the filing of information, the return of an indictment by which a prosecution for any violent crime is commenced, or the filing of a petition to adjudicate a minor as a delinquent for a violent crime;

(2) shall provide notice of the date, time, and place of trial;

(3) or victim advocate personnel shall provide information of social services and financial assistance available for victims of crime, including information of how to apply for these services and assistance;

(3.5) or victim advocate personnel shall provide information about available victim services, including referrals to programs, counselors, and agencies that assist a victim to deal with trauma, loss, and grief;

(4) shall assist in having any stolen or other personal property held by law enforcement authorities for evidentiary or other purposes returned as expeditiously as possible, pursuant to the procedures set out in Section 115-9 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963;

(5) or victim advocate personnel shall provide appropriate employer intercession services to ensure that employers of victims will cooperate with the criminal justice system in order to minimize an employee's loss of pay and other benefits resulting from court appearances;

(6) shall provide information whenever possible, of a secure waiting area during court proceedings that does not require victims to be in close proximity to defendant or juveniles accused of a violent crime, and their families and friends;

(7) shall provide notice to the crime victim of the right to have a translator present at all court proceedings and, in compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the right to communications access through a sign language interpreter or by other means;

(8) in the case of the death of a person, which death occurred in the same transaction or occurrence in which acts occurred for which a defendant is charged with an offense, shall notify the spouse, parent, child or sibling of the decedent of the date of the trial of the person or persons allegedly responsible for the death;

(9) shall inform the victim of the right to have present at all court proceedings, subject to the rules of evidence, an advocate or other support person of the victim's choice, and the right to retain an attorney, at the victim's own expense, who, upon written notice filed with the clerk of the court and State's Attorney, is to receive copies of all notices, motions and court orders filed thereafter in the case, in the same manner as if the victim were a named party in the case;

(9.5) shall inform the victim of (A) the victim's right under Section 6 of this Act to make a victim impact statement at the sentencing hearing; (B) the right of the victim's spouse, guardian, parent, grandparent and other immediate family and household members under Section 6 of this Act to present an impact statement at sentencing; and (C) if a presentence report is to be prepared, the right of the victim's spouse, guardian, parent, grandparent and other immediate family and household members to submit information to the preparer of the presentence report about the effect the offense has had on the victim and the person;

(10) at the sentencing hearing shall make a good faith attempt to explain the minimum amount of time during which the defendant may actually be physically imprisoned. The Office of the State's Attorney shall further notify the crime victim of the right to request from the Prisoner Review Board information concerning the release of the defendant under subparagraph (d)(1) of this Section;

(11) shall request restitution at sentencing and shall consider restitution in any plea negotiation, as provided by law; and

(12) shall, upon the court entering a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, inform the victim of the notification services available from the Department of Human Services, including the statewide telephone number, under subparagraph (d)(2) of this Section.

(c) At the written request of the crime victim, the office of the State's Attorney shall:

(1) provide notice a reasonable time in advance of the following court proceedings: preliminary hearing, any hearing the effect of which may be the release of defendant from custody, or to alter the conditions of bond and the sentencing hearing. The crime victim shall also be notified of the cancellation of the court proceeding in sufficient time, wherever possible, to prevent an unnecessary appearance in court;

(2) provide notice within a reasonable time after receipt of notice from the custodian, of the release of the defendant on bail or personal recognizance or the release from detention of a minor who has been detained for a violent crime;

(3) explain in nontechnical language the details of any plea or verdict of a defendant, or any adjudication of a juvenile as a delinquent for a violent crime;

(4) where practical, consult with the crime victim before the Office of the State's Attorney makes an offer of a plea bargain to the defendant or enters into negotiations with the defendant concerning a possible plea agreement, and shall consider the written victim impact statement, if prepared prior to entering into a plea agreement;

(5) provide notice of the ultimate disposition of the cases arising from an indictment or an information, or a petition to have a juvenile adjudicated as a delinquent for a violent crime;

(6) provide notice of any appeal taken by the defendant and information on how to contact the appropriate agency handling the appeal;

(7) provide notice of any request for post-conviction review filed by the defendant under Article 122 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, and of the date, time and place of any hearing concerning the petition. Whenever possible, notice of the hearing shall be given in advance;

(7.5) provide notice of any request for resentencing filed by the defendant under Section 116-2.2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, and of the date, time, and place of any hearing concerning the motion;

(8) forward a copy of any statement presented under Section 6 to the Prisoner Review Board to be considered by the Board in making its determination under subsection (b) of Section 3-3-8 of the Unified Code of Corrections.

(d)(1) The Prisoner Review Board shall inform a victim or any other concerned citizen, upon written request, of the prisoner's release on parole, aftercare release, mandatory supervised release, electronic detention, work release, international transfer or exchange, or by the custodian of the discharge of any individual who was adjudicated a delinquent for a violent crime from State custody and by the sheriff of the appropriate county of any such person's final discharge from county custody. The Prisoner Review Board, upon written request, shall provide to a victim or any other concerned citizen a recent photograph of any person convicted of a felony, upon his or her release from custody. The Prisoner Review Board, upon written request, shall inform a victim or any other concerned citizen when feasible at least 7 days prior to the prisoner's release on furlough of the times and dates of such furlough. Upon written request by the victim or any other concerned citizen, the State's Attorney shall notify the person once of the times and dates of release of a prisoner sentenced to periodic imprisonment. Notification shall be based on the most recent information as to victim's or other concerned citizen's residence or other location available to the notifying authority.

(2) When the defendant has been committed to the Department of Human Services pursuant to Section 5-2-4 or any other provision of the Unified Code of Corrections, the victim may request to be notified by the releasing authority of the approval by the court of an on-grounds pass, a supervised off-grounds pass, an unsupervised off-grounds pass, or conditional release; the release on an off-grounds pass; the return from an off-grounds pass; transfer to another facility; conditional release; escape; death; or final discharge from State custody. The Department of Human Services shall establish and maintain a statewide telephone number to be used by victims to make notification requests under these provisions and shall publicize this telephone number on its website and to the State's Attorney of each county.

(3) In the event of an escape from State custody, the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice immediately shall notify the Prisoner Review Board of the escape and the Prisoner Review Board shall notify the victim. The notification shall be based upon the most recent information as to the victim's residence or other location available to the Board. When no such information is available, the Board shall make all reasonable efforts to obtain the information and make the notification. When the escapee is apprehended, the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice immediately shall notify the Prisoner Review Board and the Board shall notify the victim.

(4) The victim of the crime for which the prisoner has been sentenced shall receive reasonable written notice not less than 30 days prior to the parole or aftercare release hearing and may submit, in writing, on film, videotape or other electronic means or in the form of a recording or in person at the parole or aftercare release hearing or if a victim of a violent crime, by calling the toll-free number established in subsection (f) of this Section, information for consideration by the Prisoner Review Board. The victim shall be notified within 7 days after the prisoner has been granted parole or aftercare release and shall be informed of the right to inspect the registry of parole or aftercare release decisions, established under subsection (g) of Section 3-3-5 of the Unified Code of Corrections. The provisions of this paragraph (4) are subject to the Open Parole Hearings Act.

(5) If a statement is presented under Section 6, the Prisoner Review Board shall inform the victim of any order of discharge entered by the Board pursuant to Section 3-3-8 of the Unified Code of Corrections.

(6) At the written request of the victim of the crime for which the prisoner was sentenced or the State's Attorney of the county where the person seeking parole or aftercare release was prosecuted, the Prisoner Review Board shall notify the victim and the State's Attorney of the county where the person seeking parole or aftercare release was prosecuted of the death of the prisoner if the prisoner died while on parole or aftercare release or mandatory supervised release.

(7) When a defendant who has been committed to the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or the Department of Human Services is released or discharged and subsequently committed to the Department of Human Services as a sexually violent person and the victim had requested to be notified by the releasing authority of the defendant's discharge, conditional release, death, or escape from State custody, the releasing authority shall provide to the Department of Human Services such information that would allow the Department of Human Services to contact the victim.

(8) When a defendant has been convicted of a sex offense as defined in Section 2 of the Sex Offender Registration Act and has been sentenced to the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Prisoner Review Board shall notify the victim of the sex offense of the prisoner's eligibility for release on parole, aftercare release, mandatory supervised release, electronic detention, work release, international transfer or exchange, or by the custodian of the discharge of any individual who was adjudicated a delinquent for a sex offense from State custody and by the sheriff of the appropriate county of any such person's final discharge from county custody. The notification shall be made to the victim at least 30 days, whenever possible, before release of the sex offender.

(e) The officials named in this Section may satisfy some or all of their obligations to provide notices and other information through participation in a statewide victim and witness notification system established by the Attorney General under Section 8.5 of this Act.

(f) To permit a victim of a violent crime to provide information to the Prisoner Review Board for consideration by the Board at a parole or aftercare release hearing of a person who committed the crime against the victim in accordance with clause (d)(4) of this Section or at a proceeding to determine the conditions of mandatory supervised release of a person sentenced to a determinate sentence or at a hearing on revocation of mandatory supervised release of a person sentenced to a determinate sentence, the Board shall establish a toll-free number that may be accessed by the victim of a violent crime to present that information to the Board.

(Source: P.A. 97-457, eff. 1-1-12; 97-572, eff. 1-1-12; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12; 97-815, eff. 1-1-13; 98-372, eff. 1-1-14; 98-558, eff. 1-1-14; revised 9-24-13.)

Section 20. The Unified Code of Corrections is amended by changing Section 5-5-3.1 as follows:

(730 ILCS 5/5-5-3.1) (from Ch. 38, par. 1005-5-3.1)

Sec. 5-5-3.1. Factors in Mitigation.

(a) The following grounds shall be accorded weight in favor of withholding or minimizing a sentence of imprisonment:

(1) The defendant's criminal conduct neither caused nor threatened serious physical harm to another.

(2) The defendant did not contemplate that his criminal conduct would cause or threaten serious physical harm to another.

(3) The defendant acted under a strong provocation.

(4) There were substantial grounds tending to excuse or justify the defendant's criminal conduct, though failing to establish a defense.

(5) The defendant's criminal conduct was induced or facilitated by someone other than the defendant.

(6) The defendant has compensated or will compensate the victim of his criminal conduct for the damage or injury that he sustained.

(7) The defendant has no history of prior delinquency or criminal activity or has led a law-abiding life for a substantial period of time before the commission of the present crime.

(8) The defendant's criminal conduct was the result of circumstances unlikely to recur.

(9) The character and attitudes of the defendant indicate that he is unlikely to commit another crime.

(10) The defendant is particularly likely to comply with the terms of a period of probation.

(11) The imprisonment of the defendant would entail excessive hardship to his dependents.

(12) The imprisonment of the defendant would endanger his or her medical condition.

(13) The defendant was intellectually disabled as defined in Section 5-1-13 of this Code.

(14) The defendant sought or obtained emergency medical assistance for an overdose and was convicted of a Class 3 felony or higher possession, manufacture, or delivery of a controlled, counterfeit, or look-alike substance or a controlled substance analog under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act or a Class 2 felony or higher possession, manufacture or delivery of methamphetamine under the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act.

(15) At the time of the offense, the defendant was or had been the victim of domestic violence and the effects of the domestic violence tended to excuse or justify the defendant's criminal conduct. As used in this paragraph (15), "domestic violence" means "abuse" as defined in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986.

(b) If the court, having due regard for the character of the offender, the nature and circumstances of the offense and the public interest finds that a sentence of imprisonment is the most appropriate disposition of the offender, or where other provisions of this Code mandate the imprisonment of the offender, the grounds listed in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be considered as factors in mitigation of the term imposed.

(Source: P.A. 97-227, eff. 1-1-12; 97-678, eff. 6-1-12; 98-463, eff. 8-16-13.)