HB3710 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 10600 RLC 20676 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB3710

Introduced 2/18/2025, by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

725 ILCS 120/4

from Ch. 38, par. 1404

Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that crime victims have the right to be treated with fairness and respect during the investigatory process, including the right to be free from deception and free from the knowing communication of false facts about evidence during interviews and conversations with law enforcement.

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 Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act is amended by changing Section 4 as follows:

(725 ILCS 120/4) (from Ch. 38, par. 1404)

Sec. 4. Rights of crime victims.

(a) Crime victims shall have the following rights:

(1) The right to be treated with fairness and respect for their dignity and privacy and to be free from harassment, intimidation, and abuse throughout the criminal justice process.

(1.1) The right to be treated with fairness and respect during the investigatory process, including the right to be free from deception and free from the knowing communication of false facts about evidence during interviews and conversations with law enforcement.

(1.5) The right to notice and to a hearing before a court ruling on a request for access to any of the victim's records, information, or communications which are privileged or confidential by law.

(1.6) Except as otherwise provided in Section 9.5 of the Criminal Identification Act or Section 3-3013 of the Counties Code, whenever a person's DNA profile is collected due to the person being a victim of a crime, as identified by law enforcement, that specific profile collected in conjunction with that criminal investigation shall not be entered into any DNA database. Nothing in this paragraph (1.6) shall be interpreted to contradict rules and regulations developed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation relating to the National DNA Index System or Combined DNA Index System.

(2) The right to timely notification of all court proceedings.

(3) The right to communicate with the prosecution.

(4) The right to be heard at any post-arraignment court proceeding in which a right of the victim is at issue and any court proceeding involving a post-arraignment release decision, plea, or sentencing.

(5) The right to be notified of the conviction, the sentence, the imprisonment and the release of the accused.

(6) The right to the timely disposition of the case following the arrest of the accused.

(7) The right to be reasonably protected from the accused through the criminal justice process.

(7.5) The right to have the safety of the victim and the victim's family considered in determining whether to release the defendant and setting conditions of release after arrest and conviction.

(8) The right to be present at the trial and all other court proceedings on the same basis as the accused, unless the victim is to testify and the court determines that the victim's testimony would be materially affected if the victim hears other testimony at the trial.

(9) The right to have present at all court proceedings, including proceedings under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, subject to the rules of evidence, an advocate and other support person of the victim's choice.

(10) The right to restitution.

(b) Any law enforcement agency that investigates an offense committed in this State shall provide a crime victim with a written statement and explanation of the rights of crime victims under this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly within 48 hours of law enforcement's initial contact with a victim. The statement shall include information about crime victim compensation, including how to contact the Office of the Illinois Attorney General to file a claim, and appropriate referrals to local and State programs that provide victim services. The content of the statement shall be provided to law enforcement by the Attorney General. Law enforcement shall also provide a crime victim with a sign-off sheet that the victim shall sign and date as an acknowledgement that he or she has been furnished with information and an explanation of the rights of crime victims and compensation set forth in this Act.

(b-5) Upon the request of the victim, the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction shall provide a free copy of the police report concerning the victim's incident, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 5 business days from the request.

(c) The Clerk of the Circuit Court shall post the rights of crime victims set forth in Article I, Section 8.1(a) of the Illinois Constitution and subsection (a) of this Section within 3 feet of the door to any courtroom where criminal proceedings are conducted. The clerk may also post the rights in other locations in the courthouse.

(d) At any point, the victim has the right to retain a victim's attorney who may be present during all stages of any interview, investigation, or other interaction with representatives of the criminal justice system. Treatment of the victim should not be affected or altered in any way as a result of the victim's decision to exercise this right.

(Source: P.A. 103-792, eff. 1-1-25.)