93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB4677

 

Introduced 02/04/04, by Constance A. Howard

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
720 ILCS 5/9-1   from Ch. 38, par. 9-1

    Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Reduces the aggravating factors for which the death penalty may be imposed for first degree murder. Retains the death penalty for the murder of: (1) a peace officer, fireman, or correctional employee killed in the performance of his or her official duties, to prevent the performance of his or her official duties, or in retaliation for performance of his or her official duties; (2) an inmate of a correctional institution who was killed on the grounds of the institution or a person present in the correctional institution with the consent of the chief administrative officer of the institution; (3) 2 or more individuals; (4) an individual under 12 years of age if the death resulted from exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty; (5) a witness or potential witness in a criminal prosecution; (6) an individual that was intentional and involved the infliction of torture; and (7) an individual in connection with or as a result of terrorism.


LRB093 19410 RLC 45148 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4677 LRB093 19410 RLC 45148 b

1     AN ACT concerning criminal justice.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Criminal Code of 1961 is amended by changing
5 Section 9-1 as follows:
 
6     (720 ILCS 5/9-1)  (from Ch. 38, par. 9-1)
7     Sec. 9-1. First degree Murder - Death penalties -
8 Exceptions - Separate Hearings - Proof - Findings - Appellate
9 procedures - Reversals.
10     (a) A person who kills an individual without lawful
11 justification commits first degree murder if, in performing the
12 acts which cause the death:
13         (1) he either intends to kill or do great bodily harm
14     to that individual or another, or knows that such acts will
15     cause death to that individual or another; or
16         (2) he knows that such acts create a strong probability
17     of death or great bodily harm to that individual or
18     another; or
19         (3) he is attempting or committing a forcible felony
20     other than second degree murder.
21     (b) Aggravating Factors. A defendant who at the time of the
22 commission of the offense has attained the age of 18 or more
23 and who has been found guilty of first degree murder may be
24 sentenced to death if:
25         (1) the murdered individual was a peace officer or
26     fireman killed in the course of performing his official
27     duties, to prevent the performance of his official duties,
28     or in retaliation for performing his official duties, and
29     the defendant knew or should have known that the murdered
30     individual was a peace officer or fireman; or
31         (2) the murdered individual was an employee of an
32     institution or facility of the Department of Corrections,

 

 

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1     or any similar local correctional agency, killed in the
2     course of performing his official duties, to prevent the
3     performance of his official duties, or in retaliation for
4     performing his official duties, or the murdered individual
5     was an inmate at such institution or facility and was
6     killed on the grounds thereof, or the murdered individual
7     was otherwise present in such institution or facility with
8     the knowledge and approval of the chief administrative
9     officer thereof; or
10         (3) the defendant has been convicted of murdering two
11     or more individuals under subsection (a) of this Section or
12     under any law of the United States or of any state which is
13     substantially similar to subsection (a) of this Section
14     regardless of whether the deaths occurred as the result of
15     the same act or of several related or unrelated acts so
16     long as the deaths were the result of either an intent to
17     kill more than one person or of separate acts which the
18     defendant knew would cause death or create a strong
19     probability of death or great bodily harm to the murdered
20     individual or another; or
21         (4) (blank) the murdered individual was killed as a
22     result of the hijacking of an airplane, train, ship, bus or
23     other public conveyance; or
24         (5) (blank) the defendant committed the murder
25     pursuant to a contract, agreement or understanding by which
26     he was to receive money or anything of value in return for
27     committing the murder or procured another to commit the
28     murder for money or anything of value; or
29         (6) (blank) the murdered individual was killed in the
30     course of another felony if:
31             (a) the murdered individual:
32                 (i) was actually killed by the defendant, or
33                 (ii) received physical injuries personally
34             inflicted by the defendant substantially
35             contemporaneously with physical injuries caused by
36             one or more persons for whose conduct the defendant

 

 

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1             is legally accountable under Section 5-2 of this
2             Code, and the physical injuries inflicted by
3             either the defendant or the other person or persons
4             for whose conduct he is legally accountable caused
5             the death of the murdered individual; and
6             (b) in performing the acts which caused the death
7         of the murdered individual or which resulted in
8         physical injuries personally inflicted by the
9         defendant on the murdered individual under the
10         circumstances of subdivision (ii) of subparagraph (a)
11         of paragraph (6) of subsection (b) of this Section, the
12         defendant acted with the intent to kill the murdered
13         individual or with the knowledge that his acts created
14         a strong probability of death or great bodily harm to
15         the murdered individual or another; and
16             (c) the other felony was an inherently violent
17         crime or the attempt to commit an inherently violent
18         crime. In this subparagraph (c), "inherently violent
19         crime" includes, but is not limited to, armed robbery,
20         robbery, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child,
21         aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated
22         kidnapping, aggravated vehicular hijacking, aggravated
23         arson, aggravated stalking, residential burglary, and
24         home invasion ; or
25         (7) the murdered individual was under 12 years of age
26     and the death resulted from exceptionally brutal or heinous
27     behavior indicative of wanton cruelty; or
28         (8) the defendant committed the murder with intent to
29     prevent the murdered individual from testifying or
30     participating in any criminal investigation or prosecution
31     or giving material assistance to the State in any
32     investigation or prosecution, either against the defendant
33     or another; or the defendant committed the murder because
34     the murdered individual was a witness in any prosecution or
35     gave material assistance to the State in any investigation
36     or prosecution, either against the defendant or another;

 

 

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1     for purposes of this paragraph (8), "participating in any
2     criminal investigation or prosecution" is intended to
3     include those appearing in the proceedings in any capacity
4     such as trial judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys,
5     investigators, witnesses, or jurors; or
6         (9) (blank) the defendant, while committing an offense
7     punishable under Sections 401, 401.1, 401.2, 405, 405.2,
8     407 or 407.1 or subsection (b) of Section 404 of the
9     Illinois Controlled Substances Act, or while engaged in a
10     conspiracy or solicitation to commit such offense,
11     intentionally killed an individual or counseled,
12     commanded, induced, procured or caused the intentional
13     killing of the murdered individual; or
14         (10) (blank) the defendant was incarcerated in an
15     institution or facility of the Department of Corrections at
16     the time of the murder, and while committing an offense
17     punishable as a felony under Illinois law, or while engaged
18     in a conspiracy or solicitation to commit such offense,
19     intentionally killed an individual or counseled,
20     commanded, induced, procured or caused the intentional
21     killing of the murdered individual; or
22         (11) (blank) the murder was committed in a cold,
23     calculated and premeditated manner pursuant to a
24     preconceived plan, scheme or design to take a human life by
25     unlawful means, and the conduct of the defendant created a
26     reasonable expectation that the death of a human being
27     would result therefrom; or
28         (12) (blank) the murdered individual was an emergency
29     medical technician - ambulance, emergency medical
30     technician - intermediate, emergency medical technician -
31     paramedic, ambulance driver, or other medical assistance
32     or first aid personnel, employed by a municipality or other
33     governmental unit, killed in the course of performing his
34     official duties, to prevent the performance of his official
35     duties, or in retaliation for performing his official
36     duties, and the defendant knew or should have known that

 

 

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1     the murdered individual was an emergency medical
2     technician - ambulance, emergency medical technician -
3     intermediate, emergency medical technician - paramedic,
4     ambulance driver, or other medical assistance or first aid
5     personnel; or
6         (13) (blank) the defendant was a principal
7     administrator, organizer, or leader of a calculated
8     criminal drug conspiracy consisting of a hierarchical
9     position of authority superior to that of all other members
10     of the conspiracy, and the defendant counseled, commanded,
11     induced, procured, or caused the intentional killing of the
12     murdered person; or
13         (14) the murder was intentional and involved the
14     infliction of torture. For the purpose of this Section
15     torture means the infliction of or subjection to extreme
16     physical pain, motivated by an intent to increase or
17     prolong the pain, suffering or agony of the victim; or
18         (15) (blank) the murder was committed as a result of
19     the intentional discharge of a firearm by the defendant
20     from a motor vehicle and the victim was not present within
21     the motor vehicle; or
22         (16) (blank) the murdered individual was 60 years of
23     age or older and the death resulted from exceptionally
24     brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty; or
25         (17) (blank) the murdered individual was a disabled
26     person and the defendant knew or should have known that the
27     murdered individual was disabled. For purposes of this
28     paragraph (17), "disabled person" means a person who
29     suffers from a permanent physical or mental impairment
30     resulting from disease, an injury, a functional disorder,
31     or a congenital condition that renders the person incapable
32     of adequately providing for his or her own health or
33     personal care; or
34         (18) (blank) the murder was committed by reason of any
35     person's activity as a community policing volunteer or to
36     prevent any person from engaging in activity as a community

 

 

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1     policing volunteer; or
2         (19) (blank) the murdered individual was subject to an
3     order of protection and the murder was committed by a
4     person against whom the same order of protection was issued
5     under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986; or
6         (20) (blank) the murdered individual was known by the
7     defendant to be a teacher or other person employed in any
8     school and the teacher or other employee is upon the
9     grounds of a school or grounds adjacent to a school, or is
10     in any part of a building used for school purposes; or
11         (21) the murder was committed by the defendant in
12     connection with or as a result of the offense of terrorism
13     as defined in Section 29D-30 of this Code.
14     For the purposes of this Section:
15     "Torture" means the intentional and depraved infliction of
16     extreme physical pain for a prolonged period of time prior to
17     the victim's death.
18     "Depraved" means the defendant relished the infliction of
19     extreme physical pain upon the victim evidencing debasement or
20     perversion or that the defendant evidenced a sense of pleasure
21     in infliction of extreme physical pain.
22     "Participating in any criminal investigation or
23     prosecution" is intended to include those appearing in the
24     proceedings in any capacity, such as trial judges, prosecutors,
25     defense attorneys, investigators, witnesses, or jurors.
26      (c) Consideration of factors in Aggravation and
27 Mitigation.
28     The court shall consider, or shall instruct the jury to
29 consider any aggravating and any mitigating factors which are
30 relevant to the imposition of the death penalty. Aggravating
31 factors may include but need not be limited to those factors
32 set forth in subsection (b). Mitigating factors may include but
33 need not be limited to the following:
34         (1) the defendant has no significant history of prior
35     criminal activity;
36         (2) the murder was committed while the defendant was

 

 

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1     under the influence of extreme mental or emotional
2     disturbance, although not such as to constitute a defense
3     to prosecution;
4         (3) the murdered individual was a participant in the
5     defendant's homicidal conduct or consented to the
6     homicidal act;
7         (4) the defendant acted under the compulsion of threat
8     or menace of the imminent infliction of death or great
9     bodily harm;
10         (5) the defendant was not personally present during
11     commission of the act or acts causing death;
12         (6) the defendant's background includes a history of
13     extreme emotional or physical abuse;
14         (7) the defendant suffers from a reduced mental
15     capacity.
16     (d) Separate sentencing hearing.
17     Where requested by the State, the court shall conduct a
18 separate sentencing proceeding to determine the existence of
19 factors set forth in subsection (b) and to consider any
20 aggravating or mitigating factors as indicated in subsection
21 (c). The proceeding shall be conducted:
22         (1) before the jury that determined the defendant's
23     guilt; or
24         (2) before a jury impanelled for the purpose of the
25     proceeding if:
26             A. the defendant was convicted upon a plea of
27         guilty; or
28             B. the defendant was convicted after a trial before
29         the court sitting without a jury; or
30             C. the court for good cause shown discharges the
31         jury that determined the defendant's guilt; or
32         (3) before the court alone if the defendant waives a
33     jury for the separate proceeding.
34     (e) Evidence and Argument.
35     During the proceeding any information relevant to any of
36 the factors set forth in subsection (b) may be presented by

 

 

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1 either the State or the defendant under the rules governing the
2 admission of evidence at criminal trials. Any information
3 relevant to any additional aggravating factors or any
4 mitigating factors indicated in subsection (c) may be presented
5 by the State or defendant regardless of its admissibility under
6 the rules governing the admission of evidence at criminal
7 trials. The State and the defendant shall be given fair
8 opportunity to rebut any information received at the hearing.
9     (f) Proof.
10     The burden of proof of establishing the existence of any of
11 the factors set forth in subsection (b) is on the State and
12 shall not be satisfied unless established beyond a reasonable
13 doubt.
14     (g) Procedure - Jury.
15     If at the separate sentencing proceeding the jury finds
16 that none of the factors set forth in subsection (b) exists,
17 the court shall sentence the defendant to a term of
18 imprisonment under Chapter V of the Unified Code of
19 Corrections. If there is a unanimous finding by the jury that
20 one or more of the factors set forth in subsection (b) exist,
21 the jury shall consider aggravating and mitigating factors as
22 instructed by the court and shall determine whether the
23 sentence of death shall be imposed. If the jury determines
24 unanimously, after weighing the factors in aggravation and
25 mitigation, that death is the appropriate sentence , the court
26 shall sentence the defendant to death. If the court does not
27 concur with the jury determination that death is the
28 appropriate sentence, the court shall set forth reasons in
29 writing including what facts or circumstances the court relied
30 upon, along with any relevant documents, that compelled the
31 court to non-concur with the sentence. This document and any
32 attachments shall be part of the record for appellate review.
33 The court shall be bound by the jury's sentencing
34 determination.
35     If after weighing the factors in aggravation and
36 mitigation, one or more jurors determines that death is not the

 

 

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1 appropriate sentence, the court shall sentence the defendant to
2 a term of imprisonment under Chapter V of the Unified Code of
3 Corrections.
4     (h) Procedure - No Jury.
5     In a proceeding before the court alone, if the court finds
6 that none of the factors found in subsection (b) exists, the
7 court shall sentence the defendant to a term of imprisonment
8 under Chapter V of the Unified Code of Corrections.
9     If the Court determines that one or more of the factors set
10 forth in subsection (b) exists, the Court shall consider any
11 aggravating and mitigating factors as indicated in subsection
12 (c). If the Court determines, after weighing the factors in
13 aggravation and mitigation, that death is the appropriate
14 sentence , the Court shall sentence the defendant to death.
15     If the court finds that death is not the appropriate
16 sentence, the court shall sentence the defendant to a term of
17 imprisonment under Chapter V of the Unified Code of
18 Corrections.
19     (h-5) Decertification as a capital case.
20     In a case in which the defendant has been found guilty of
21 first degree murder by a judge or jury, or a case on remand for
22 resentencing, and the State seeks the death penalty as an
23 appropriate sentence, on the court's own motion or the written
24 motion of the defendant, the court may decertify the case as a
25 death penalty case if the court finds that the only evidence
26 supporting the defendant's conviction is the uncorroborated
27 testimony of an informant witness, as defined in Section 115-21
28 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, concerning the
29 confession or admission of the defendant or that the sole
30 evidence against the defendant is a single eyewitness or single
31 accomplice without any other corroborating evidence. If the
32 court decertifies the case as a capital case under either of
33 the grounds set forth above, the court shall issue a written
34 finding. The State may pursue its right to appeal the
35 decertification pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 604(a)(1). If
36 the court does not decertify the case as a capital case, the

 

 

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1 matter shall proceed to the eligibility phase of the sentencing
2 hearing.
3     (i) Appellate Procedure.
4     The conviction and sentence of death shall be subject to
5 automatic review by the Supreme Court. Such review shall be in
6 accordance with rules promulgated by the Supreme Court. The
7 Illinois Supreme Court may overturn the death sentence, and
8 order the imposition of imprisonment under Chapter V of the
9 Unified Code of Corrections if the court finds that the death
10 sentence is fundamentally unjust as applied to the particular
11 case. If the Illinois Supreme Court finds that the death
12 sentence is fundamentally unjust as applied to the particular
13 case, independent of any procedural grounds for relief, the
14 Illinois Supreme Court shall issue a written opinion explaining
15 this finding.
16     (j) Disposition of reversed death sentence.
17     In the event that the death penalty in this Act is held to
18 be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States
19 or of the State of Illinois, any person convicted of first
20 degree murder shall be sentenced by the court to a term of
21 imprisonment under Chapter V of the Unified Code of
22 Corrections.
23     In the event that any death sentence pursuant to the
24 sentencing provisions of this Section is declared
25 unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States or
26 of the State of Illinois, the court having jurisdiction over a
27 person previously sentenced to death shall cause the defendant
28 to be brought before the court, and the court shall sentence
29 the defendant to a term of imprisonment under Chapter V of the
30 Unified Code of Corrections.
31     (k) Guidelines for seeking the death penalty.
32     The Attorney General and State's Attorneys Association
33 shall consult on voluntary guidelines for procedures governing
34 whether or not to seek the death penalty. The guidelines do not
35 have the force of law and are only advisory in nature.
36 (Source: P.A. 92-854, eff. 12-5-02; 93-605, eff. 11-19-03.)