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| Public Act 096-1092 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning criminal law.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act is | ||||
amended by changing Section 8.5 as follows:
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(725 ILCS 120/8.5)
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Sec. 8.5. Statewide victim and witness notification | ||||
system.
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(a) The Attorney General may establish a crime victim and | ||||
witness
notification system to assist public officials in | ||||
carrying out their
duties to notify and inform crime victims | ||||
and witnesses under Section 4.5 of
this Act or under | ||||
subsections (a), (a-2), and (a-3) of Section 120 of the Sex | ||||
Offender Community Notification Law as the Attorney General | ||||
specifies by rule. The system shall download
necessary
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information from participating officials into its computers, | ||||
where it shall be
maintained, updated, and automatically | ||||
transmitted to victims and witnesses by
telephone, computer, or | ||||
written notice.
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(b) The Illinois Department of Corrections, the Department | ||||
of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Human
Services, and the | ||||
Prisoner Review Board shall cooperate with the Attorney
General | ||||
in the implementation of this Section and shall provide | ||||
information as
necessary to the effective operation of the | ||
system.
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(c) State's attorneys, circuit court clerks, and local law | ||
enforcement
and correctional authorities
may enter into | ||
agreements with the Attorney General for participation in the
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system. The Attorney General may provide those who elect to | ||
participate with
the equipment, software, or training | ||
necessary to bring their offices into the
system.
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(d) The provision of information to crime victims and | ||
witnesses through the
Attorney General's notification system
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satisfies a given State or local official's corresponding | ||
obligation under
Section 4.5 to provide the information.
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(e) The Attorney General may provide for telephonic, | ||
electronic, or other
public access to the database established | ||
under this Section.
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(f) The Attorney General shall adopt rules as necessary to | ||
implement this
Section. The rules shall include, but not be | ||
limited to, provisions for the
scope and operation of any | ||
system the Attorney General may establish
and procedures, | ||
requirements,
and standards for entering into agreements to | ||
participate in the system and to
receive equipment, software, | ||
or training.
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(g) There is established in the Office of the Attorney | ||
General a Crime
Victim and Witness Notification Advisory
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Committee consisting of those victims advocates, sheriffs,
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State's Attorneys, circuit court clerks, Illinois Department | ||
of
Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and | ||
Prisoner Review
Board
employees that the Attorney General
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chooses to appoint. The Attorney General shall designate one | ||
member to chair
the Committee.
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(1) The Committee shall consult with and advise the | ||
Attorney General as to
the exercise of the Attorney | ||
General's authority under this Section, including,
but not | ||
limited
to:
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(i) the design, scope, and operation of the | ||
notification system;
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(ii) the content of any rules adopted to implement | ||
this Section;
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(iii) the procurement of hardware, software, and
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support for the system, including choice of supplier or | ||
operator; and
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(iv) the acceptance of agreements with and the | ||
award of equipment,
software, or training to officials | ||
that seek to participate in the system.
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(2) The Committee shall review the status and operation | ||
of the system and
report any findings and recommendations | ||
for changes to the Attorney General and
the General | ||
Assembly by November 1 of each year.
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(3) The members of the Committee shall receive no | ||
compensation for their
services as members of the | ||
Committee, but may be reimbursed for their actual
expenses | ||
incurred in serving on the Committee.
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(Source: P.A. 93-258, eff. 1-1-04; 94-696, eff. 6-1-06.)
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