725 ILCS 240/ Violent Crime Victims Assistance Act.

(725 ILCS 240/1) (from Ch. 70, par. 501)

Sec. 1. Short title. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Violent Crime Victims Assistance Act".

(Source: P.A. 83-908.)

(725 ILCS 240/2) (from Ch. 70, par. 502)

Sec. 2. Legislative findings and intent. The General Assembly finds that when crime strikes, the chief concern of criminal justice agencies has been apprehending and dealing with the criminal, and that the victim or witness is frequently forgotten or further victimized by the criminal justice system. Nevertheless, the single most important determinant of whether a case is resolved is the information and assistance provided by the victim or witness.

It is, therefore, the intent of the General Assembly to provide ways of improving attitudes of victims and witnesses toward the criminal justice system and to provide for faster and more complete victim recovery from the effects of crime through the establishment of victim and witness assistance centers.

All services and practices of each center shall further or complement the following goals:

(a) Assist the criminal justice agencies in giving more consideration and personal attention to victims and witnesses of violent crime;

(b) Sensitize law enforcement officials and others who come into contact with crime victims and witnesses;

(c) Attempt to decrease the incidence of unreported crimes;

(d) Assure that victims and witnesses are informed of the progress of the cases in which they are involved;

(e) Encourage public use of the services made available under this Act.

This Act shall be construed to complement the provisions of the "Crime Victims Compensation Act" in meeting their common goals, but this Act shall be administered and funded as provided herein.

(Source: P.A. 83-908.)

(725 ILCS 240/3) (from Ch. 70, par. 503)

Sec. 3. Definitions. As used in this Act:

(a) "Advisory Commission" means the Violent Crimes Advisory Commission created in Section 4 of this Act;

(b) "Fund" means the Violent Crime Victims Assistance Fund created in Section 10 of this Act;

(c) "Agency" or "agencies" means any federal, State, local or private entity which provides, operates or coordinates victim and witness assistance programs.

(Source: P.A. 83-908.)

(725 ILCS 240/4) (from Ch. 70, par. 504)

Sec. 4. Advisory Commission created. There is created a Violent Crimes Advisory Commission, hereinafter called the Advisory Commission, consisting of 18 members: the Attorney General, or his or her designee who shall serve as Chairperson; the Illinois Secretary of State or his or her designee; the Chief Justice of the Court of Claims or his or her designee; the Director of Children and Family Services; 2 members of the House of Representatives, 1 to be appointed by the Speaker of the House and 1 to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; 2 members of the Senate, 1 to be appointed by the President of the Senate and 1 to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and the following to be appointed by the Attorney General: 1 police officer; 1 State's Attorney from a county in Illinois; 1 health services professional possessing experience and expertise in dealing with the victims of violent crime; one person who is employed as an administrator at a public or private institution of higher education; one person who is enrolled as a student at a public or private institution of higher education; and 5 members of the public, one of whom shall be a senior citizen age 60 or over, possessing experience and expertise in dealing with victims of violent crime, including experience with victims of domestic and sexual violence. The members of the Advisory Commission shall be appointed biennially for terms expiring on July 1 of each succeeding odd-numbered year and shall serve until their respective successors are appointed or until termination of their legislative service, whichever first occurs. The members of the Commission shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Vacancies occurring because of death or resignation shall be filled by the appointing authority for the group in which the vacancy occurs.

Nine members of the Advisory Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the concurrence of at least 9 members shall be necessary to render a determination, decision or recommendation by the Advisory Committee. In addition to the Attorney General, who shall serve as Chairperson, the Advisory Commission may select such other officers as it deems necessary.

(Source: P.A. 92-286, eff. 1-1-02.)

(725 ILCS 240/5) (from Ch. 70, par. 505)

Sec. 5. Advisory Commission - General responsibilities.

(a) The Advisory Commission shall have the following responsibilities:

(1) To study the operation of all Illinois laws, practices, agencies and organizations which affect victims of crime including but not limited to the Crime Victims Compensation Act;

(2) To promote and conduct studies, research, analysis and investigation of matters affecting the interests of crime victims;

(3) To recommend legislation to develop and improve policies which promote the recognition of the legitimate rights, needs and interests of crime victims;

(4) To serve as a clearinghouse for public information relating to crime victims' problems and programs;

(5) To coordinate, monitor and evaluate the activities of programs operating under this Act;

(6) To make any necessary outreach efforts to encourage the development and maintenance of services throughout the State, with special attention to the regions and neighborhoods with the greatest need for victim assistance services;

(7) To perform other activities, in cooperation with the Attorney General, which the Advisory Commission considers useful to the furtherance of the stated legislative intent;

(8) To make an annual report to the General Assembly.

(b) The Advisory Committee may also perform any of the functions enumerated in subparagraph (a) of this section relative to witnesses to crime.

(Source: P.A. 92-286, eff. 1-1-02.)

(725 ILCS 240/6) (from Ch. 70, par. 506)

Sec. 6. Attorney General - Organization of Programs. During the period between January 1, 1984 and June 30, 1984, the Attorney General, in cooperation with the Advisory Commission, shall establish rules and regulations for the performance of his or her activities under this Act, including procedures for the designation and funding of victims' assistance centers; thereafter, he or she shall:

(a) Adopt and publicize the concept of victim and witness assistance centers, including guidelines for applications, selection and operation of centers;

(b) Receive and, when appropriate, solicit applications from agencies for funding of centers;

(c) Designate agencies and award grants to operate centers;

(d) Accept any grant, including federal grants, or gift to promote the purposes of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 83-908.)

(725 ILCS 240/7) (from Ch. 70, par. 507)

Sec. 7. Administration of Fund. The Attorney General shall administer the disbursement of monies collected by the Fund in accordance with the following procedures.

(a) Any public or private nonprofit agency may apply to the Attorney General for selection and funding as a victim and witness assistance center pursuant to this Act.

(b) The Attorney General shall consider the following factors together with any other circumstances he or she deems appropriate in selecting applicants to receive funds and to be designated as victim and witness assistance centers:

(1) Stated goals of applicants;

(2) Commitment and ability to provide the services described in Section 8 of this Act;

(3) Number of people to be served and the needs of the community;

(4) Evidence of community support;

(5) Organizational structure of the agency;

(6) Maximization of volunteers.

(c) After evaluation of all applicants, the Attorney General shall select a number of applicants which the Attorney General deems qualified under this Act for designation to receive funding pursuant to this Act for the establishment and operation of the centers. Funding contracts shall be entered into by the Attorney General with each designated applicant on an annual basis. The Attorney General may impose matching funds requirements on grant recipients. The Attorney General may evaluate each recipient prior to each fund dispersal and cancel the remaining term of any contract in which the recipient has failed to meet the contract requirements or for any good cause.

(Source: P.A. 90-139, eff. 1-1-98.)

(725 ILCS 240/8) (from Ch. 70, par. 508)

Sec. 8. Centers - Services provided.

(a) Each center shall provide one or more of the following services:

(1) Coordinate volunteers to work with criminal justice agencies to provide direct victim services or to establish community support;

(2) Provide assistance to victims of violent crime and their families in obtaining assistance through other official or community resources;

(3) Provide elderly victims of crime with services appropriate to their special needs;

(4) Provide transportation and/or household assistance to those victims participating in the criminal justice process;

(5) Provide victims of domestic and sexual violence and sexual harassment with services appropriate to their special needs;

(6) Provide courthouse reception and guidance, including explanation of unfamiliar procedures and bilingual information;

(7) Provide in-person or telephone hot-line assistance to victims;

(8) Provide special counseling facilities and rehabilitation services to victims;

(9) Provide other services as the Commission shall deem appropriate to further the purposes of this Act;

(10) Provide public education on crime and crime victims;

(11) Provide training and sensitization for persons who work with victims of crime;

(12) Provide special counseling facilities and rehabilitation services for child victims of sex offenses;

(13) When applicable, centers shall enter into written networking agreements to provide for the special needs of child victims of violent crimes;

(14) Provide assistance in exercising rights provided in the Roadside Memorial Act for the families of victims of fatal injury crashes on roadways.

(b) Such centers may provide one or more of the services enumerated in subparagraph (a) of this section for witnesses of crime.

(Source: P.A. 97-108, eff. 7-14-11.)

(725 ILCS 240/9) (from Ch. 70, par. 509)

Sec. 9. Centers - Accountability to Attorney General. Each center shall provide the Attorney General periodic reports on the activities of the center. Submission of any such reports as the Attorney General shall require is a prerequisite to renewal of any grant awarded under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 83-908.)

(725 ILCS 240/10) (from Ch. 70, par. 510)

Sec. 10. Violent Crime Victims Assistance Fund.

(a) The "Violent Crime Victims Assistance Fund" is created as a special fund in the State Treasury to provide monies for the grants to be awarded under this Act.

(b) (Blank).

(c) (Blank).

(d) Monies forfeited, and proceeds from the sale of property forfeited and seized, under the forfeiture provisions set forth in Part 500 of Article 124B of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 shall be accepted for the Violent Crime Victims Assistance Fund.

(e) Investment income which is attributable to the investment of monies in the Violent Crime Victims Assistance Fund shall be credited to that fund for uses specified in this Act. The Treasurer shall provide the Attorney General a monthly status report on the amount of money in the Fund.

(f) Monies from the fund may be granted on and after July 1, 1984.

(g) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 100-987, eff. 7-1-19.)

(725 ILCS 240/11) (from Ch. 70, par. 511)

Sec. 11. Severability. The invalidity of any provision of this Act shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 83-908.)