|
Illinois under this Section, wherein any restraining order, injunction, or prohibition or any other action in connection with any property or interest subject to forfeiture under this Section is sought, the circuit court presiding over the trial of the person or persons charged with involuntary servitude, involuntary servitude of a minor, or trafficking in persons for forced labor or services shall first determine whether there is probable cause to believe that the person or persons so charged have committed the offense of involuntary servitude, involuntary servitude of a minor, or trafficking in persons for forced labor or services and whether the property or interest is subject to forfeiture pursuant to this Section. In order to make such a determination, prior to entering any such order, the court shall conduct a hearing without a jury, wherein the People shall establish that there is: (i) probable cause that the person or persons so charged have committed the offense of involuntary servitude, involuntary servitude of a minor, or trafficking in persons for forced labor or services and (ii) probable cause that any property or interest may be subject to forfeiture pursuant to this Section. The hearing may be conducted simultaneously with a preliminary hearing, if the prosecution is commenced by information or complaint, or by motion of the People, at any stage in the proceedings. The court may accept a finding of probable cause at a preliminary hearing following the filing of an information charging the offense of involuntary servitude, involuntary servitude of a minor, or trafficking in persons for forced labor or services or the return of an indictment by a grand jury charging the offense of involuntary servitude, involuntary servitude of a minor, or trafficking in persons for forced labor or services as sufficient evidence of probable cause as provided in item (i) of this subsection (c). Upon such a finding, the circuit court shall enter such restraining order, injunction or prohibition, or shall take such other action in connection with any such property or other interest subject to forfeiture, as is necessary to insure that such property is not removed from the jurisdiction of the court, concealed, destroyed, or otherwise disposed of by the owner of that property or interest prior to a forfeiture hearing under this Section. The Attorney General or State's Attorney shall file a certified copy of the restraining order, injunction, or other prohibition with the recorder of deeds or registrar of titles of each county where any such property of the defendant may be located. No such injunction, restraining order, or other prohibition shall affect the rights of any bona fide purchaser, mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lien holder arising prior to the date of such filing. The court may, at any time, upon verified petition by the defendant or an innocent owner or innocent bona fide third party lien holder who neither had knowledge of, nor consented to, the illegal act or omission, conduct a hearing to release all or portions of any such property or interest that the court previously determined to be subject to forfeiture or subject to any restraining order, injunction, or prohibition or other action. The court may release such property to the defendant or innocent owner or innocent bona fide third party lien holder who neither had knowledge of, nor consented to, the illegal act or omission for good cause shown and within the sound discretion of the court.
|