103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5803

 

Introduced 4/2/2024, by Rep. John M. Cabello and Travis Weaver

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
720 ILCS 5/7-1  from Ch. 38, par. 7-1
720 ILCS 5/7-2  from Ch. 38, par. 7-2
720 ILCS 5/7-3  from Ch. 38, par. 7-3
720 ILCS 5/7-14  from Ch. 38, par. 7-14

    Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person who is justified in the use of force, including deadly force, does not have a duty to retreat. Provides that a person who is justified in the use of force, including the use of force that is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm, is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of force justified under these provisions (rather than have an affirmative defense to a criminal prosecution). Defines "criminal prosecution" to include charging or prosecuting the defendant.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB5803LRB103 40088 RLC 71616 b

1    AN ACT concerning criminal law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Criminal Code of 2012 is amended by
5changing Sections 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, and 7-14 as follows:
 
6    (720 ILCS 5/7-1)  (from Ch. 38, par. 7-1)
7    Sec. 7-1. Use of force in defense of person.
8    (a) A person is justified in the use of force against
9another and does not have a duty to retreat when and to the
10extent that he reasonably believes that such conduct is
11necessary to defend himself or another against such other's
12imminent use of unlawful force. However, he is justified in
13the use of force which is intended or likely to cause death or
14great bodily harm only if he reasonably believes that such
15force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily
16harm to himself or another, or the commission of a forcible
17felony and does not have a duty to retreat.
18    (b) In no case shall any act involving the use of force
19justified under this Section give rise to any claim or
20liability brought by or on behalf of any person acting within
21the definition of "aggressor" set forth in Section 7-4 of this
22Article, or the estate, spouse, or other family member of such
23a person, against the person or estate of the person using such

 

 

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1justified force, unless the use of force involves willful or
2wanton misconduct.
3    (c) A person who is justified in the use of force,
4including the use of force that is intended or likely to cause
5death or great bodily harm, is immune from criminal
6prosecution and civil action for the use of force justified
7under subsection (a) of this Section. As used in this
8subsection (c), "criminal prosecution" includes charging or
9prosecuting the defendant.
10(Source: P.A. 93-832, eff. 7-28-04.)
 
11    (720 ILCS 5/7-2)  (from Ch. 38, par. 7-2)
12    Sec. 7-2. Use of force in defense of dwelling.
13    (a) A person is justified in the use of force against
14another and does not have a duty to retreat when and to the
15extent that he reasonably believes that such conduct is
16necessary to prevent or terminate such other's unlawful entry
17into or attack upon a dwelling. However, he is justified in the
18use of force which is intended or likely to cause death or
19great bodily harm only if:
20        (1) The entry is made or attempted in a violent,
21    riotous, or tumultuous manner, and he reasonably believes
22    that such force is necessary to prevent an assault upon,
23    or offer of personal violence to, him or another then in
24    the dwelling, or
25        (2) He reasonably believes that such force is

 

 

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1    necessary to prevent the commission of a felony in the
2    dwelling.
3    (b) In no case shall any act involving the use of force
4justified under this Section give rise to any claim or
5liability brought by or on behalf of any person acting within
6the definition of "aggressor" set forth in Section 7-4 of this
7Article, or the estate, spouse, or other family member of such
8a person, against the person or estate of the person using such
9justified force, unless the use of force involves willful or
10wanton misconduct.
11     (c) A person who is justified in the use of force,
12including the use of force that is intended or likely to cause
13death or great bodily harm, is immune from criminal
14prosecution and civil action for the use of force justified
15under subsection (a) of this Section. As used in this
16subsection (c), "criminal prosecution" includes charging or
17prosecuting the defendant.
18(Source: P.A. 93-832, eff. 7-28-04.)
 
19    (720 ILCS 5/7-3)  (from Ch. 38, par. 7-3)
20    Sec. 7-3. Use of force in defense of other property.
21    (a) A person is justified in the use of force against
22another and does not have a duty to retreat when and to the
23extent that he reasonably believes that such conduct is
24necessary to prevent or terminate such other's trespass on or
25other tortious or criminal interference with either real

 

 

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1property (other than a dwelling) or personal property,
2lawfully in his possession or in the possession of another who
3is a member of his immediate family or household or of a person
4whose property he has a legal duty to protect. However, he is
5justified in the use of force which is intended or likely to
6cause death or great bodily harm only if he reasonably
7believes that such force is necessary to prevent the
8commission of a forcible felony.
9    (b) In no case shall any act involving the use of force
10justified under this Section give rise to any claim or
11liability brought by or on behalf of any person acting within
12the definition of "aggressor" set forth in Section 7-4 of this
13Article, or the estate, spouse, or other family member of such
14a person, against the person or estate of the person using such
15justified force, unless the use of force involves willful or
16wanton misconduct.
17    (c) A person who is justified in the use of force,
18including the use of force that is intended or likely to cause
19death or great bodily harm, is immune from criminal
20prosecution and civil action for the use of force justified
21under subsection (a) of this Section. As used in this
22subsection (c), "criminal prosecution" includes charging or
23prosecuting the defendant.
24(Source: P.A. 93-832, eff. 7-28-04.)
 
25    (720 ILCS 5/7-14)  (from Ch. 38, par. 7-14)

 

 

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1    Sec. 7-14. Affirmative defense. Except as otherwise
2provided in Sections 7-1, 7-2, and 7-3 of this Article, a A
3defense of justifiable use of force, or of exoneration, based
4on the provisions of this Article is an affirmative defense.
5(Source: Laws 1961, p. 1983.)