State of Illinois
91st General Assembly
Legislation

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91_HB2748sam001

 










                                             LRB9100042RCksam

 1                    AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2748

 2        AMENDMENT NO.     .  Amend House Bill 2748  by  replacing
 3    the title with the following:
 4        "AN ACT concerning crime victims and witnesses."; and

 5    by  replacing  everything  after the enacting clause with the
 6    following:

 7        "Section 5.  The Rights of Crime  Victims  and  Witnesses
 8    Act  is  amended by changing Sections 4.5 and 9 and by adding
 9    Section 8.5 as follows:

10        (725 ILCS 120/4.5)
11        Sec. 4.5.  Procedures to implement the  rights  of  crime
12    victims.    To   afford   crime  victims  their  rights,  law
13    enforcement, prosecutors, judges and corrections will provide
14    information, as appropriate of the following procedures:
15        (a)  At the request of the crime victim, law  enforcement
16    authorities  investigating  the  case shall provide notice of
17    the status of the investigation,  except  where  the  State's
18    Attorney determines that disclosure of such information would
19    unreasonably  interfere  with  the  investigation, until such
20    time  as  the  alleged  assailant  is  apprehended   or   the
21    investigation is closed.
 
                            -2-              LRB9100042RCksam
 1        (b)  The office of the State's Attorney:
 2             (1)  shall   provide   notice   of   the  filing  of
 3        information, the return  of  an  indictment  by  which  a
 4        prosecution  for  any  violent crime is commenced, or the
 5        filing  of  a  petition  to  adjudicate  a  minor  as   a
 6        delinquent for a violent crime;
 7             (2)  shall  provide  notice  of  the date, time, and
 8        place of trial;
 9             (3)  or  victim  advocate  personnel  shall  provide
10        information of social services and  financial  assistance
11        available  for victims of crime, including information of
12        how to apply for these services and assistance;
13             (4)  shall assist in  having  any  stolen  or  other
14        personal property held by law enforcement authorities for
15        evidentiary  or  other purposes returned as expeditiously
16        as possible,  pursuant  to  the  procedures  set  out  in
17        Section 115-9 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963;
18             (5)  or  victim  advocate  personnel  shall  provide
19        appropriate employer intercession services to ensure that
20        employers  of  victims  will  cooperate with the criminal
21        justice system in order to minimize an employee's loss of
22        pay and other benefits resulting from court appearances;
23             (6)  shall provide information whenever possible, of
24        a secure waiting area during court proceedings that  does
25        not require victims to be in close proximity to defendant
26        or  juveniles  accused  of  a  violent  crime,  and their
27        families and friends;
28             (7)  shall provide notice to the crime victim of the
29        right  to  have  a  translator  present  at   all   court
30        proceedings;
31             (8)  in  the  case  of  the death of a person, which
32        death occurred in the same transaction or  occurrence  in
33        which acts occurred for which a defendant is charged with
34        an  offense,  shall  notify  the spouse, parent, child or
 
                            -3-              LRB9100042RCksam
 1        sibling of the decedent of the date of the trial  of  the
 2        person or persons allegedly responsible for the death;
 3             (9)  shall  inform  the  victim of the right to have
 4        present at all court proceedings, subject to the rules of
 5        evidence, an advocate or  other  support  person  of  the
 6        victim's  choice, and the right to retain an attorney, at
 7        the victim's own expense, who, upon written notice  filed
 8        with  the  clerk of the court and State's Attorney, is to
 9        receive copies of all notices, motions and  court  orders
10        filed  thereafter  in  the case, in the same manner as if
11        the victim were a named party in the case; and
12             (10)  at the sentencing hearing shall  make  a  good
13        faith  attempt  to  explain  the  minimum  amount of time
14        during which the defendant  may  actually  be  physically
15        imprisoned.   The  Office  of  the State's Attorney shall
16        further notify the crime victim of the right  to  request
17        from the Prisoner Review Board information concerning the
18        release  of  the  defendant  under subparagraph (d)(1) of
19        this Section; and
20             (11)  shall request restitution  at  sentencing  and
21        shall  consider  restitution  in any plea negotiation, as
22        provided by law.
23        (c)  At the written request  of  the  crime  victim,  the
24    office of the State's Attorney shall:
25             (1)  provide  notice a reasonable time in advance of
26        the following court proceedings: preliminary hearing, any
27        hearing the  effect  of  which  may  be  the  release  of
28        defendant  from  custody,  or  to alter the conditions of
29        bond and the sentencing hearing.  The crime victim  shall
30        also  be  notified  of  the  cancellation  of  the  court
31        proceeding  in  sufficient  time,  wherever  possible, to
32        prevent an unnecessary appearance in court;
33             (2)  provide notice within a reasonable  time  after
34        receipt  of  notice from the custodian, of the release of
 
                            -4-              LRB9100042RCksam
 1        the defendant on bail or  personal  recognizance  or  the
 2        release  from  detention of a minor who has been detained
 3        for a violent crime;
 4             (3)  explain in nontechnical language the details of
 5        any plea or verdict of a defendant, or  any  adjudication
 6        of a juvenile as a delinquent for a violent crime;
 7             (4)  where  practical, consult with the crime victim
 8        before the Office of the State's Attorney makes an  offer
 9        of  a  plea  bargain  to  the  defendant  or  enters into
10        negotiations with the  defendant  concerning  a  possible
11        plea  agreement,  and  shall  consider the written victim
12        impact statement, if prepared prior to  entering  into  a
13        plea agreement;
14             (5)  provide  notice  of the ultimate disposition of
15        the cases arising from an indictment or  an  information,
16        or  a  petition  to  have  a  juvenile  adjudicated  as a
17        delinquent for a violent crime;
18             (6)  provide notice  of  any  appeal  taken  by  the
19        defendant   and   information   on  how  to  contact  the
20        appropriate agency handling the appeal;
21             (7)  provide   notice    of    any    request    for
22        post-conviction  review  filed  by  the  defendant  under
23        Article  122  of  the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963,
24        and of the date, time and place of any hearing concerning
25        the petition.  Whenever possible, notice of  the  hearing
26        shall be given in advance;
27             (8)  forward a copy of any statement presented under
28        Section  6  to the Prisoner Review Board to be considered
29        by the Board in making its determination under subsection
30        (b) of Section 3-3-8 of the Unified Code of Corrections.

31        (d) (1)  The Prisoner Review Board shall inform a  victim
32        or  any other concerned citizen, upon written request, of
33        the prisoner's release on  parole,  mandatory  supervised
34        release,  electronic  detention,  work  release or by the
 
                            -5-              LRB9100042RCksam
 1        custodian of the discharge  of  any  individual  who  was
 2        adjudicated  a  delinquent for a violent crime from State
 3        custody and by the sheriff of the appropriate  county  of
 4        any  such  person's  final discharge from county custody.
 5        The Prisoner Review Board, upon  written  request,  shall
 6        provide  to  a  victim  or  any other concerned citizen a
 7        recent photograph of any person convicted  of  a  felony,
 8        upon his or her release from custody. The Prisoner Review
 9        Board, upon written request, shall inform a victim or any
10        other  concerned  citizen  when  feasible at least 7 days
11        prior to the prisoner's release on furlough of the  times
12        and  dates of such furlough.  Upon written request by the
13        victim  or  any  other  concerned  citizen,  the  State's
14        Attorney shall notify the person once of  the  times  and
15        dates  of  release  of  a  prisoner sentenced to periodic
16        imprisonment.  Notification shall be based  on  the  most
17        recent  information  as  to  victim's  or other concerned
18        citizen's residence or other location  available  to  the
19        notifying  authority.  For purposes of this paragraph (1)
20        of subsection (d), "concerned citizen" includes relatives
21        of the victim, friends of the victim,  witnesses  to  the
22        crime,  or any other person associated with the victim or
23        prisoner.
24             (2)  When the defendant has been  committed  to  the
25        Department of Human Services pursuant to Section 5-2-4 or
26        any  other  provision of the Unified Code of Corrections,
27        the victim may request to be notified  by  the  releasing
28        authority   of   the  defendant's  discharge  from  State
29        custody.
30             (3)  In the event of an escape from  State  custody,
31        the  Department  of  Corrections immediately shall notify
32        the Prisoner Review Board of the escape and the  Prisoner
33        Review  Board  shall notify the victim.  The notification
34        shall be based upon the most recent information as to the
 
                            -6-              LRB9100042RCksam
 1        victim's residence or other  location  available  to  the
 2        Board.   When no such information is available, the Board
 3        shall  make  all  reasonable  efforts   to   obtain   the
 4        information  and make the notification.  When the escapee
 5        is apprehended, the Department of Corrections immediately
 6        shall notify the Prisoner  Review  Board  and  the  Board
 7        shall notify the victim.
 8             (4)  The  victim of the crime for which the prisoner
 9        has  been  sentenced  shall  receive  reasonable  written
10        notice not less than 15 days prior to the parole  hearing
11        and  may  submit, in writing, on film, videotape or other
12        electronic means or in the form  of  a  recording  or  in
13        person   at   the   parole   hearing,   information   for
14        consideration  by  the Prisoner Review Board.  The victim
15        shall be notified within 7 days after  the  prisoner  has
16        been granted parole and shall be informed of the right to
17        inspect  the  registry  of  parole decisions, established
18        under subsection (g) of Section 3-3-5 of the Unified Code
19        of Corrections.  The provisions of this paragraph (4) are
20        subject to the Open Parole Hearings Act.
21             (5)  If a statement is presented  under  Section  6,
22        the  Prisoner Review Board shall inform the victim of any
23        order of discharge  entered  by  the  Board  pursuant  to
24        Section 3-3-8 of the Unified Code of Corrections.
25             (6)  At  the  written  request  of the victim of the
26        crime for which the prisoner was sentenced, the  Prisoner
27        Review  Board shall notify the victim of the death of the
28        prisoner  if  the  prisoner  died  while  on  parole   or
29        mandatory supervised release.
30             (7)  When  a defendant who has been committed to the
31        Department of Corrections  or  the  Department  of  Human
32        Services  is  released  or  discharged  and  subsequently
33        committed  to  the  Department  of  Human  Services  as a
34        sexually violent person and the victim had  requested  to
 
                            -7-              LRB9100042RCksam
 1        be notified by the releasing authority of the defendant's
 2        discharge  from  State  custody,  the releasing authority
 3        shall provide to the Department of  Human  Services  such
 4        information  that  would  allow  the  Department of Human
 5        Services to contact the victim.
 6        (e)  The officials named in this Section may satisfy some
 7    or all of their obligations  to  provide  notices  and  other
 8    information  through  participation in a statewide victim and
 9    witness  notification  system  established  by  the  Attorney
10    General under Section 8.5 of this Act.
11    (Source:  P.A.  89-8,  eff.  3-21-95;  89-235,  eff.  8-4-95;
12    89-481, eff. 1-1-97; 89-507, eff. 7-1-97; 90-14, eff. 7-1-97;
13    90-793, eff. 8-14-98.)

14        (725 ILCS 120/8.5 new)
15        Sec.  8.5.  Statewide  victim  and  witness  notification
16    system.
17        (a)  The Attorney General may establish  a  crime  victim
18    and witness notification system to assist public officials in
19    carrying  out their duties to notify and inform crime victims
20    and witnesses under Section 4.5 of this Act as  the  Attorney
21    General   specifies  by  rule.   The  system  shall  download
22    necessary information from participating officials  into  its
23    computers,   where  it  shall  be  maintained,  updated,  and
24    automatically  transmitted  to  victims  and   witnesses   by
25    telephone, computer, or written notice.
26        (b)  The   Illinois   Department   of   Corrections,  the
27    Department of Human Services, and the Prisoner  Review  Board
28    shall   cooperate   with   the   Attorney   General   in  the
29    implementation of this Section and shall provide  information
30    as necessary to the effective operation of the system.
31        (c)  State's  Attorneys  and  local  law  enforcement and
32    correctional authorities may enter into agreements  with  the
33    Attorney  General  for  participation  in  the  system.   The
 
                            -8-              LRB9100042RCksam
 1    Attorney  General  may provide those who elect to participate
 2    with the equipment, software, or training necessary to  bring
 3    their offices into the system.
 4        (d)  The  provision  of  information to crime victims and
 5    witnesses through the Attorney General's notification  system
 6    satisfies  a  given  State  or local official's corresponding
 7    obligation under Section 4.5 to provide the information.
 8        (e)  The Attorney General  may  provide  for  telephonic,
 9    electronic,   or   other   public   access  to  the  database
10    established under this Section.
11        (f)  The Attorney General shall adopt rules as  necessary
12    to  implement this Section.  The rules shall include, but not
13    be limited to, provisions for the scope and operation of  any
14    system  the  Attorney  General  may establish and procedures,
15    requirements, and standards for entering into  agreements  to
16    participate in the system and to receive equipment, software,
17    or training.
18        (g)  There  is  established in the Office of the Attorney
19    General a Crime  Victim  and  Witness  Notification  Advisory
20    Committee  consisting  of  those victims advocates, sheriffs,
21    State's Attorneys, Illinois  Department  of  Corrections  and
22    Prisoner  Review  Board  employees  that the Attorney General
23    chooses to appoint.  The Attorney General shall designate one
24    member to chair the Committee.
25             (1)  The Committee shall consult with and advise the
26        Attorney General as  to  the  exercise  of  the  Attorney
27        General's  authority  under  this Section, including, but
28        not limited to:
29                  (i)  the design, scope, and  operation  of  the
30             notification system;
31                  (ii)  the  content  of  any  rules  adopted  to
32             implement this Section;
33                  (iii)  the  procurement  of hardware, software,
34             and support for  the  system,  including  choice  of
 
                            -9-              LRB9100042RCksam
 1             supplier or operator; and
 2                  (iv)  the acceptance of agreements with and the
 3             award   of   equipment,  software,  or  training  to
 4             officials that seek to participate in the system.
 5             (2)  The  Committee  shall  review  the  status  and
 6        operation of the  system  and  report  any  findings  and
 7        recommendations  for  changes to the Attorney General and
 8        the General Assembly by November 1 of each year.
 9             (3)  The members of the Committee shall  receive  no
10        compensation   for  their  services  as  members  of  the
11        Committee,  but  may  be  reimbursed  for  their   actual
12        expenses incurred in serving on the Committee.

13        (725 ILCS 120/9) (from Ch. 38, par. 1408)
14        Sec.   9.    This  Act  does  not  limit  any  rights  or
15    responsibilities otherwise enjoyed by or imposed upon victims
16    or witnesses of violent crime, nor does it grant any person a
17    cause of action for damages or attorneys fees.   Any  act  of
18    omission  or  commission  by  any  law enforcement officer or
19    State's Attorney, by the Attorney  General,  Prisoner  Review
20    Board,   Department   of  Corrections,  Department  of  Human
21    Services, or other State  agency,  or  private  entity  under
22    contract  pursuant  to  Section  8, or by any employee of any
23    State agency or private entity  under  contract  pursuant  to
24    Section  8  acting  in good faith in rendering crime victim's
25    assistance or otherwise enforcing this Act shall  not  impose
26    civil  liability  upon the individual or entity or his or her
27    supervisor or employer.  Nothing in this Act shall  create  a
28    basis  for  vacating  a  conviction or a ground for appellate
29    relief in any criminal case.  Failure of the crime victim  to
30    receive  notice  as  required, however, shall not deprive the
31    court of the power to act regarding the proceeding before it;
32    nor shall any such failure grant the defendant the  right  to
33    seek a continuance.
 
                            -10-             LRB9100042RCksam
 1    (Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97; 90-744, eff. 1-1-99.)".

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