2016 Illinois Compiled Statutes
Chapter 725 - CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
725 ILCS 120/ - Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act.

(725 ILCS 120/1) (from Ch. 38, par. 1401)
Sec. 1. Short title. This Article I may be cited as the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act.
(Source: P.A. 88-489.)

(725 ILCS 120/2) (from Ch. 38, par. 1402)
Sec. 2. The purpose of this Act is to implement, preserve, protect, and enforce the rights guaranteed to crime victims by Article I, Section 8.1 of the Illinois Constitution to ensure that crime victims are treated with fairness and respect for their dignity and privacy throughout the criminal justice system, to ensure that crime victims are informed of their rights and have standing to assert their rights in the trial and appellate courts, to establish procedures for enforcement of those rights, and to increase the effectiveness of the criminal justice system by affording certain basic rights and considerations to the witnesses of crime who are essential to prosecution.
(Source: P.A. 99-413, eff. 8-20-15.)

(725 ILCS 120/3) (from Ch. 38, par. 1403)
Sec. 3. The terms used in this Act shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Crime victim" or "victim" means: (1) any natural person determined by the prosecutor or the court to have suffered direct physical or psychological harm as a result of a violent crime perpetrated or attempted against that person or direct physical or psychological harm as a result of (i) a violation of Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or similar provision of a local ordinance or (ii) a violation of Section 9-3 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; (2) in the case of a crime victim who is under 18 years of age or an adult victim who is incompetent or incapacitated, both parents, legal guardians, foster parents, or a single adult representative; (3) in the case of an adult deceased victim, 2 representatives who may be the spouse, parent, child or sibling of the victim, or the representative of the victim's estate; and (4) an immediate family member of a victim under clause (1) of this paragraph (a) chosen by the victim. If the victim is 18 years of age or over, the victim may choose any person to be the victim's representative. In no event shall the defendant or any person who aided and abetted in the commission of the crime be considered a victim, a crime victim, or a representative of the victim.
A board, agency, or other governmental entity making decisions regarding an offender's release, sentence reduction, or clemency can determine additional persons are victims for the purpose of its proceedings.
(a-3) "Advocate" means a person whose communications with the victim are privileged under Section 8-802.1 or 8-802.2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or Section 227 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986.
(a-5) "Confer" means to consult together, share information, compare opinions and carry on a discussion or deliberation.
(a-7) "Sentence" includes, but is not limited to, the imposition of sentence, a request for a reduction in sentence, parole, mandatory supervised release, aftercare release, early release, clemency, or a proposal that would reduce the defendant's sentence or result in the defendant's release. "Early release" refers to a discretionary release.
(a-9) "Sentencing" includes, but is not limited to, the imposition of sentence and a request for a reduction in sentence, parole, mandatory supervised release, aftercare release, or early release.
(b) "Witness" means: any person who personally observed the commission of a crime and who will testify on behalf of the State of Illinois; or a person who will be called by the prosecution to give testimony establishing a necessary nexus between the offender and the violent crime.
(c) "Violent crime" means: (1) any felony in which force or threat of force was used against the victim; (2) any offense involving sexual exploitation, sexual conduct, or sexual penetration; (3) a violation of Section 11-20.1, 11-20.1B, 11-20.3, or 11-23.5 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; (4) domestic battery or stalking; (5) violation of an order of protection, a civil no contact order, or a stalking no contact order; (6) any misdemeanor which results in death or great bodily harm to the victim; or (7) any violation of Section 9-3 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, or Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, or a similar provision of a local ordinance, if the violation resulted in personal injury or death. "Violent crime" includes any action committed by a juvenile that would be a violent crime if committed by an adult. For the purposes of this paragraph, "personal injury" shall include any Type A injury as indicated on the traffic accident report completed by a law enforcement officer that requires immediate professional attention in either a doctor's office or medical facility. A type A injury shall include severely bleeding wounds, distorted extremities, and injuries that require the injured party to be carried from the scene.
(d) (Blank).
(e) "Court proceedings" includes, but is not limited to, the preliminary hearing, any post-arraignment hearing the effect of which may be the release of the defendant from custody or to alter the conditions of bond, change of plea hearing, the trial, any pretrial or post-trial hearing, sentencing, any oral argument or hearing before an Illinois appellate court, any hearing under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code after a finding that the defendant is not guilty by reason of insanity, any hearing related to a modification of sentence, probation revocation hearing, aftercare release or parole hearings, post-conviction relief proceedings, habeas corpus proceedings and clemency proceedings related to the defendant's conviction or sentence. For purposes of the victim's right to be present, "court proceedings" does not include (1) hearings under Section 109-1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, (2) grand jury proceedings, (3) status hearings, or (4) the issuance of an order or decision of an Illinois court that dismisses a charge, reverses a conviction, reduces a sentence, or releases an offender under a court rule.
(f) "Concerned citizen" includes relatives of the victim, friends of the victim, witnesses to the crime, or any other person associated with the victim or prisoner.
(g) "Victim's attorney" means an attorney retained by the victim for the purposes of asserting the victim's constitutional and statutory rights. An attorney retained by the victim means an attorney who is hired to represent the victim at the victim's expense or an attorney who has agreed to provide pro bono representation. Nothing in this statute creates a right to counsel at public expense for a victim.
(Source: P.A. 98-558, eff. 1-1-14; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 99-413, eff. 8-20-15; 99-642, eff. 7-28-16; 99-671, eff. 1-1-17.)

(725 ILCS 120/4) (from Ch. 38, par. 1404)
Sec. 4. Rights of crime victims.
(a) Crime victims shall have the following rights:
(1) The right to be treated with fairness and respect

for their dignity and privacy and to be free from harassment, intimidation, and abuse throughout the criminal justice process.

(1.5) The right to notice and to a hearing before a

court ruling on a request for access to any of the victim's records, information, or communications which are privileged or confidential by law.

(2) The right to timely notification of all court

proceedings.

(3) The right to communicate with the prosecution.
(4) The right to be heard at any post-arraignment

court proceeding in which a right of the victim is at issue and any court proceeding involving a post-arraignment release decision, plea, or sentencing.

(5) The right to be notified of the conviction, the

sentence, the imprisonment and the release of the accused.

(6) The right to the timely disposition of the case

following the arrest of the accused.

(7) The right to be reasonably protected from the

accused through the criminal justice process.

(7.5) The right to have the safety of the victim and

the victim's family considered in denying or fixing the amount of bail, determining whether to release the defendant, and setting conditions of release after arrest and conviction.

(8) The right to be present at the trial and all

other court proceedings on the same basis as the accused, unless the victim is to testify and the court determines that the victim's testimony would be materially affected if the victim hears other testimony at the trial.

(9) The right to have present at all court

proceedings, including proceedings under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, subject to the rules of evidence, an advocate and other support person of the victim's choice.

(10) The right to restitution.
(b) Any law enforcement agency that investigates an offense committed in this State shall provide a crime victim with a written statement and explanation of the rights of crime victims under this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly within 48 hours of law enforcement's initial contact with a victim. The statement shall include information about crime victim compensation, including how to contact the Office of the Illinois Attorney General to file a claim, and appropriate referrals to local and State programs that provide victim services. The content of the statement shall be provided to law enforcement by the Attorney General. Law enforcement shall also provide a crime victim with a sign-off sheet that the victim shall sign and date as an acknowledgement that he or she has been furnished with information and an explanation of the rights of crime victims and compensation set forth in this Act.
(c) The Clerk of the Circuit Court shall post the rights of crime victims set forth in Article I, Section 8.1(a) of the Illinois Constitution and subsection (a) of this Section within 3 feet of the door to any courtroom where criminal proceedings are conducted. The clerk may also post the rights in other locations in the courthouse.
(Source: P.A. 99-413, eff. 8-20-15.)

(725 ILCS 120/4.5)
Sec. 4.5. Procedures to implement the rights of crime victims. To afford crime victims their rights, law enforcement, prosecutors, judges and corrections will provide information, as appropriate of the following procedures:
(a) At the request of the crime victim, law enforcement authorities investigating the case shall provide notice of the status of the investigation, except where the State's Attorney determines that disclosure of such information would unreasonably interfere with the investigation, until such time as the alleged assailant is apprehended or the investigation is closed.
(a-5) When law enforcement authorities re-open a closed case to resume investigating, they shall provide notice of the re-opening of the case, except where the State's Attorney determines that disclosure of such information would unreasonably interfere with the investigation.
(b) The office of the State's Attorney:
(1) shall provide notice of the filing of an

information, the return of an indictment, or the filing of a petition to adjudicate a minor as a delinquent for a violent crime;

(2) shall provide timely notice of the date, time,

and place of court proceedings; of any change in the date, time, and place of court proceedings; and of any cancellation of court proceedings. Notice shall be provided in sufficient time, wherever possible, for the victim to make arrangements to attend or to prevent an unnecessary appearance at court proceedings;

(3) or victim advocate personnel shall provide

information of social services and financial assistance available for victims of crime, including information of how to apply for these services and assistance;

(3.5) or victim advocate personnel shall provide

information about available victim services, including referrals to programs, counselors, and agencies that assist a victim to deal with trauma, loss, and grief;

(4) shall assist in having any stolen or other

personal property held by law enforcement authorities for evidentiary or other purposes returned as expeditiously as possible, pursuant to the procedures set out in Section 115-9 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963;

(5) or victim advocate personnel shall provide

appropriate employer intercession services to ensure that employers of victims will cooperate with the criminal justice system in order to minimize an employee's loss of pay and other benefits resulting from court appearances;

(6) shall provide, whenever possible, a secure

waiting area during court proceedings that does not require victims to be in close proximity to defendants or juveniles accused of a violent crime, and their families and friends;

(7) shall provide notice to the crime victim of the

right to have a translator present at all court proceedings and, in compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the right to communications access through a sign language interpreter or by other means;

(8) (blank);
(8.5) shall inform the victim of the right to be

present at all court proceedings, unless the victim is to testify and the court determines that the victim's testimony would be materially affected if the victim hears other testimony at trial;

(9) shall inform the victim of the right to have

present at all court proceedings, subject to the rules of evidence and confidentiality, an advocate and other support person of the victim's choice;

(9.3) shall inform the victim of the right to retain

an attorney, at the victim's own expense, who, upon written notice filed with the clerk of the court and State's Attorney, is to receive copies of all notices, motions and court orders filed thereafter in the case, in the same manner as if the victim were a named party in the case;

(9.5) shall inform the victim of (A) the victim's

right under Section 6 of this Act to make a victim impact statement at the sentencing hearing; (B) the right of the victim's spouse, guardian, parent, grandparent and other immediate family and household members under Section 6 of this Act to present an impact statement at sentencing; and (C) if a presentence report is to be prepared, the right of the victim's spouse, guardian, parent, grandparent and other immediate family and household members to submit information to the preparer of the presentence report about the effect the offense has had on the victim and the person;

(10) at the sentencing shall make a good faith

attempt to explain the minimum amount of time during which the defendant may actually be physically imprisoned. The Office of the State's Attorney shall further notify the crime victim of the right to request from the Prisoner Review Board or Department of Juvenile Justice information concerning the release of the defendant;

(11) shall request restitution at sentencing and as

part of a plea agreement if the victim requests restitution;

(12) shall, upon the court entering a verdict of not

guilty by reason of insanity, inform the victim of the notification services available from the Department of Human Services, including the statewide telephone number, under subparagraph (d)(2) of this Section;

(13) shall provide notice within a reasonable time

after receipt of notice from the custodian, of the release of the defendant on bail or personal recognizance or the release from detention of a minor who has been detained;

(14) shall explain in nontechnical language the

details of any plea or verdict of a defendant, or any adjudication of a juvenile as a delinquent;

(15) shall make all reasonable efforts to consult

with the crime victim before the Office of the State's Attorney makes an offer of a plea bargain to the defendant or enters into negotiations with the defendant concerning a possible plea agreement, and shall consider the written victim impact statement, if prepared prior to entering into a plea agreement. The right to consult with the prosecutor does not include the right to veto a plea agreement or to insist the case go to trial. If the State's Attorney has not consulted with the victim prior to making an offer or entering into plea negotiations with the defendant, the Office of the State's Attorney shall notify the victim of the offer or the negotiations within 2 business days and confer with the victim;

(16) shall provide notice of the ultimate disposition

of the cases arising from an indictment or an information, or a petition to have a juvenile adjudicated as a delinquent for a violent crime;

(17) shall provide notice of any appeal taken by the

defendant and information on how to contact the appropriate agency handling the appeal, and how to request notice of any hearing, oral argument, or decision of an appellate court;

(18) shall provide timely notice of any request for

post-conviction review filed by the defendant under Article 122 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, and of the date, time and place of any hearing concerning the petition. Whenever possible, notice of the hearing shall be given within 48 hours of the court's scheduling of the hearing; and

(19) shall forward a copy of any statement presented

under Section 6 to the Prisoner Review Board or Department of Juvenile Justice to be considered in making a determination under Section 3-2.5-85 or subsection (b) of Section 3-3-8 of the Unified Code of Corrections.

(c) The court shall ensure that the rights of the victim are afforded.
(c-5) The following procedures shall be followed to afford victims the rights guaranteed by Article I, Section 8.1 of the Illinois Constitution:
(1) Written notice. A victim may complete a written

notice of intent to assert rights on a form prepared by the Office of the Attorney General and provided to the victim by the State's Attorney. The victim may at any time provide a revised written notice to the State's Attorney. The State's Attorney shall file the written notice with the court. At the beginning of any court proceeding in which the right of a victim may be at issue, the court and prosecutor shall review the written notice to determine whether the victim has asserted the right that may be at issue.

(2) Victim's retained attorney. A victim's attorney

shall file an entry of appearance limited to assertion of the victim's rights. Upon the filing of the entry of appearance and service on the State's Attorney and the defendant, the attorney is to receive copies of all notices, motions and court orders filed thereafter in the case.

(3) Standing. The victim has standing to assert the

rights enumerated in subsection (a) of Article I, Section 8.1 of the Illinois Constitution and the statutory rights under Section 4 of this Act in any court exercising jurisdiction over the criminal case. The prosecuting attorney, a victim, or the victim's retained attorney may assert the victim's rights. The defendant in the criminal case has no standing to assert a right of the victim in any court proceeding, including on appeal.

(4) Assertion of and enforcement of rights.
(A) The prosecuting attorney shall assert a

victim's right or request enforcement of a right by filing a motion or by orally asserting the right or requesting enforcement in open court in the criminal case outside the presence of the jury. The prosecuting attorney shall consult with the victim and the victim's attorney regarding the assertion or enforcement of a right. If the prosecuting attorney decides not to assert or enforce a victim's right, the prosecuting attorney shall notify the victim or the victim's attorney in sufficient time to allow the victim or the victim's attorney to assert the right or to seek enforcement of a right.

(B) If the prosecuting attorney elects not to

assert a victim's right or to seek enforcement of a right, the victim or the victim's attorney may assert the victim's right or request enforcement of a right by filing a motion or by orally asserting the right or requesting enforcement in open court in the criminal case outside the presence of the jury.

(C) If the prosecuting attorney asserts a

victim's right or seeks enforcement of a right, and the court denies the assertion of the right or denies the request for enforcement of a right, the victim or victim's attorney may file a motion to assert the victim's right or to request enforcement of the right within 10 days of the court's ruling. The motion need not demonstrate the grounds for a motion for reconsideration. The court shall rule on the merits of the motion.

(D) The court shall take up and decide any motion

or request asserting or seeking enforcement of a victim's right without delay, unless a specific time period is specified by law or court rule. The reasons for any decision denying the motion or request shall be clearly stated on the record.

(5) Violation of rights and remedies.
(A) If the court determines that a victim's

right has been violated, the court shall determine the appropriate remedy for the violation of the victim's right by hearing from the victim and the parties, considering all factors relevant to the issue, and then awarding appropriate relief to the victim.

(B) The appropriate remedy shall include only

actions necessary to provide the victim the right to which the victim was entitled and may include reopening previously held proceedings; however, in no event shall the court vacate a conviction. Any remedy shall be tailored to provide the victim an appropriate remedy without violating any constitutional right of the defendant. In no event shall the appropriate remedy be a new trial, damages, or costs.

(6) Right to be heard. Whenever a victim has the

right to be heard, the court shall allow the victim to exercise the right in any reasonable manner the victim chooses.

(7) Right to attend trial. A party must file a

written motion to exclude a victim from trial at least 60 days prior to the date set for trial. The motion must state with specificity the reason exclusion is necessary to protect a constitutional right of the party, and must contain an offer of proof. The court shall rule on the motion within 30 days. If the motion is granted, the court shall set forth on the record the facts that support its finding that the victim's testimony will be materially affected if the victim hears other testimony at trial.

(8) Right to have advocate present. A party who

intends to call an advocate as a witness must seek permission of the court before the subpoena is issued. The party must file a written motion and offer of proof regarding the anticipated testimony of the advocate in sufficient time to allow the court to rule and the victim to seek appellate review. The court shall rule on the motion without delay.

(9) Right to notice and hearing before disclosure of

confidential or privileged information or records. A defendant who seeks to subpoena records of or concerning the victim that are confidential or privileged by law must seek permission of the court before the subpoena is issued. The defendant must file a written motion and an offer of proof regarding the relevance, admissibility and materiality of the records. If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that: (A) the records are not protected by an absolute privilege and (B) the records contain relevant, admissible, and material evidence that is not available through other witnesses or evidence, the court shall issue a subpoena requiring a sealed copy of the records be delivered to the court to be reviewed in camera. If, after conducting an in camera review of the records, the court determines that due process requires disclosure of any portion of the records, the court shall provide copies of what it intends to disclose to the prosecuting attorney and the victim. The prosecuting attorney and the victim shall have 30 days to seek appellate review before the records are disclosed to the defendant. The disclosure of copies of any portion of the records to the prosecuting attorney does not make the records subject to discovery.

(10) Right to notice of court proceedings. If the

victim is not present at a court proceeding in which a right of the victim is at issue, the court shall ask the prosecuting attorney whether the victim was notified of the time, place, and purpose of the court proceeding and that the victim had a right to be heard at the court proceeding. If the court determines that timely notice was not given or that the victim was not adequately informed of the nature of the court proceeding, the court shall not rule on any substantive issues, accept a plea, or impose a sentence and shall continue the hearing for the time necessary to notify the victim of the time, place and nature of the court proceeding. The time between court proceedings shall not be attributable to the State under Section 103-5 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963.

(11) Right to timely disposition of the case. A

victim has the right to timely disposition of the case so as to minimize the stress, cost, and inconvenience resulting from the victim's involvement in the case. Before ruling on a motion to continue trial or other court proceeding, the court shall inquire into the circumstances for the request for the delay and, if the victim has provided written notice of the assertion of the right to a timely disposition, and whether the victim objects to the delay. If the victim objects, the prosecutor shall inform the court of the victim's objections. If the prosecutor has not conferred with the victim about the continuance, the prosecutor shall inform the court of the attempts to confer. If the court finds the attempts of the prosecutor to confer with the victim were inadequate to protect the victim's right to be heard, the court shall give the prosecutor at least 3 but not more than 5 business days to confer with the victim. In ruling on a motion to continue, the court shall consider the reasons for the requested continuance, the number and length of continuances that have been granted, the victim's objections and procedures to avoid further delays. If a continuance is granted over the victim's objection, the court shall specify on the record the reasons for the continuance and the procedures that have been or will be taken to avoid further delays.

(12) Right to Restitution.
(A) If the victim has asserted the right to

restitution and the amount of restitution is known at the time of sentencing, the court shall enter the judgment of restitution at the time of sentencing.

(B) If the victim has asserted the right to

restitution and the amount of restitution is not known at the time of sentencing, the prosecutor shall, within 5 days after sentencing, notify the victim what information and documentation related to restitution is needed and that the information and documentation must be provided to the prosecutor within 45 days after sentencing. Failure to timely provide information and documentation related to restitution shall be deemed a waiver of the right to restitution. The prosecutor shall file and serve within 60 days after sentencing a proposed judgment for restitution and a notice that includes information concerning the identity of any victims or other persons seeking restitution, whether any victim or other person expressly declines restitution, the nature and amount of any damages together with any supporting documentation, a restitution amount recommendation, and the names of any co-defendants and their case numbers. Within 30 days after receipt of the proposed judgment for restitution, the defendant shall file any objection to the proposed judgment, a statement of grounds for the objection, and a financial statement. If the defendant does not file an objection, the court may enter the judgment for restitution without further proceedings. If the defendant files an objection and either party requests a hearing, the court shall schedule a hearing.

(13) Access to presentence reports.
(A) The victim may request a copy of the

presentence report prepared under the Unified Code of Corrections from the State's Attorney. The State's Attorney shall redact the following information before providing a copy of the report:

(i) the defendant's mental history and

condition;

(ii) any evaluation prepared under

subsection (b) or (b-5) of Section 5-3-2; and

(iii) the name, address, phone number, and

other personal information about any other victim.

(B) The State's Attorney or the defendant may

request the court redact other information in the report that may endanger the safety of any person.

(C) The State's Attorney may orally disclose to

the victim any of the information that has been redacted if there is a reasonable likelihood that the information will be stated in court at the sentencing.

(D) The State's Attorney must advise the victim

that the victim must maintain the confidentiality of the report and other information. Any dissemination of the report or information that was not stated at a court proceeding constitutes indirect criminal contempt of court.

(14) Appellate relief. If the trial court denies the

relief requested, the victim, the victim's attorney or the prosecuting attorney may file an appeal within 30 days of the trial court's ruling. The trial or appellate court may stay the court proceedings if the court finds that a stay would not violate a constitutional right of the defendant. If the appellate court denies the relief sought, the reasons for the denial shall be clearly stated in a written opinion. In any appeal in a criminal case, the State may assert as error the court's denial of any crime victim's right in the proceeding to which the appeal relates.

(15) Limitation on appellate relief. In no case shall

an appellate court provide a new trial to remedy the violation of a victim's right.

(d)(1) The Prisoner Review Board shall inform a victim or any other concerned citizen, upon written request, of the prisoner's release on parole, mandatory supervised release, electronic detention, work release, international transfer or exchange, or by the custodian, other than the Department of Juvenile Justice, of the discharge of any individual who was adjudicated a delinquent for a crime from State custody and by the sheriff of the appropriate county of any such person's final discharge from county custody. The Prisoner Review Board, upon written request, shall provide to a victim or any other concerned citizen a recent photograph of any person convicted of a felony, upon his or her release from custody. The Prisoner Review Board, upon written request, shall inform a victim or any other concerned citizen when feasible at least 7 days prior to the prisoner's release on furlough of the times and dates of such furlough. Upon written request by the victim or any other concerned citizen, the State's Attorney shall notify the person once of the times and dates of release of a prisoner sentenced to periodic imprisonment. Notification shall be based on the most recent information as to victim's or other concerned citizen's residence or other location available to the notifying authority.
(2) When the defendant has been committed to the Department of Human Services pursuant to Section 5-2-4 or any other provision of the Unified Code of Corrections, the victim may request to be notified by the releasing authority of the approval by the court of an on-grounds pass, a supervised off-grounds pass, an unsupervised off-grounds pass, or conditional release; the release on an off-grounds pass; the return from an off-grounds pass; transfer to another facility; conditional release; escape; death; or final discharge from State custody. The Department of Human Services shall establish and maintain a statewide telephone number to be used by victims to make notification requests under these provisions and shall publicize this telephone number on its website and to the State's Attorney of each county.
(3) In the event of an escape from State custody, the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice immediately shall notify the Prisoner Review Board of the escape and the Prisoner Review Board shall notify the victim. The notification shall be based upon the most recent information as to the victim's residence or other location available to the Board. When no such information is available, the Board shall make all reasonable efforts to obtain the information and make the notification. When the escapee is apprehended, the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice immediately shall notify the Prisoner Review Board and the Board shall notify the victim.
(4) The victim of the crime for which the prisoner has been sentenced shall receive reasonable written notice not less than 30 days prior to the parole hearing or target aftercare release date and may submit, in writing, on film, videotape or other electronic means or in the form of a recording prior to the parole hearing or target aftercare release date or in person at the parole hearing or aftercare release protest hearing or if a victim of a violent crime, by calling the toll-free number established in subsection (f) of this Section, information for consideration by the Prisoner Review Board or Department of Juvenile Justice. The victim shall be notified within 7 days after the prisoner has been granted parole or aftercare release and shall be informed of the right to inspect the registry of parole decisions, established under subsection (g) of Section 3-3-5 of the Unified Code of Corrections. The provisions of this paragraph (4) are subject to the Open Parole Hearings Act.
(5) If a statement is presented under Section 6, the Prisoner Review Board or Department of Juvenile Justice shall inform the victim of any order of discharge pursuant to Section 3-2.5-85 or 3-3-8 of the Unified Code of Corrections.
(6) At the written or oral request of the victim of the crime for which the prisoner was sentenced or the State's Attorney of the county where the person seeking parole or aftercare release was prosecuted, the Prisoner Review Board or Department of Juvenile Justice shall notify the victim and the State's Attorney of the county where the person seeking parole or aftercare release was prosecuted of the death of the prisoner if the prisoner died while on parole or aftercare release or mandatory supervised release.
(7) When a defendant who has been committed to the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or the Department of Human Services is released or discharged and subsequently committed to the Department of Human Services as a sexually violent person and the victim had requested to be notified by the releasing authority of the defendant's discharge, conditional release, death, or escape from State custody, the releasing authority shall provide to the Department of Human Services such information that would allow the Department of Human Services to contact the victim.
(8) When a defendant has been convicted of a sex offense as defined in Section 2 of the Sex Offender Registration Act and has been sentenced to the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Prisoner Review Board or the Department of Juvenile Justice shall notify the victim of the sex offense of the prisoner's eligibility for release on parole, aftercare release, mandatory supervised release, electronic detention, work release, international transfer or exchange, or by the custodian of the discharge of any individual who was adjudicated a delinquent for a sex offense from State custody and by the sheriff of the appropriate county of any such person's final discharge from county custody. The notification shall be made to the victim at least 30 days, whenever possible, before release of the sex offender.
(e) The officials named in this Section may satisfy some or all of their obligations to provide notices and other information through participation in a statewide victim and witness notification system established by the Attorney General under Section 8.5 of this Act.
(f) To permit a crime victim of a violent crime to provide information to the Prisoner Review Board or the Department of Juvenile Justice for consideration by the Board or Department at a parole hearing or before an aftercare release decision of a person who committed the crime against the victim in accordance with clause (d)(4) of this Section or at a proceeding to determine the conditions of mandatory supervised release of a person sentenced to a determinate sentence or at a hearing on revocation of mandatory supervised release of a person sentenced to a determinate sentence, the Board shall establish a toll-free number that may be accessed by the victim of a violent crime to present that information to the Board.
(Source: P.A. 98-372, eff. 1-1-14; 98-558, eff. 1-1-14; 98-756, eff. 7-16-14; 99-413, eff. 8-20-15; 99-628, eff. 1-1-17.)

(725 ILCS 120/5) (from Ch. 38, par. 1405)
Sec. 5. Rights of witnesses.
(a) Witnesses as defined in subsection (b) of Section 3 of this Act shall have the following rights:
(1) to be notified by the Office of the State's

Attorney of all court proceedings at which the witness' presence is required in a reasonable amount of time prior to the proceeding, and to be notified of the cancellation of any scheduled court proceeding in sufficient time to prevent an unnecessary appearance in court, where possible;

(2) to be provided with appropriate employer

intercession services by the Office of the State's Attorney or the victim advocate personnel to ensure that employers of witnesses will cooperate with the criminal justice system in order to minimize an employee's loss of pay and other benefits resulting from court appearances;

(3) to be provided, whenever possible, a secure

waiting area during court proceedings that does not require witnesses to be in close proximity to defendants and their families and friends;

(4) to be provided with notice by the Office of the

State's Attorney, where necessary, of the right to have a translator present whenever the witness' presence is required and, in compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, to be provided with notice of the right to communications access through a sign language interpreter or by other means.

(b) At the written request of the witness, the witness shall:
(1) receive notice from the office of the State's

Attorney of any request for post-conviction review filed by the defendant under Article 122 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, and of the date, time, and place of any hearing concerning the petition for post-conviction review; whenever possible, notice of the hearing on the petition shall be given in advance;

(2) receive notice by the releasing authority of the

defendant's discharge from State custody if the defendant was committed to the Department of Human Services under Section 5-2-4 or any other provision of the Unified Code of Corrections;

(3) receive notice from the Prisoner Review Board of

the prisoner's escape from State custody, after the Board has been notified of the escape by the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice; when the escapee is apprehended, the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice shall immediately notify the Prisoner Review Board and the Board shall notify the witness;

(4) receive notice from the Prisoner Review Board or

the Department of Juvenile Justice of the prisoner's release on parole, aftercare release, electronic detention, work release or mandatory supervised release and of the prisoner's final discharge from parole, aftercare release, electronic detention, work release, or mandatory supervised release.

(Source: P.A. 98-558, eff. 1-1-14; 99-628, eff. 1-1-17.)

(725 ILCS 120/6) (from Ch. 38, par. 1406)
Sec. 6. Right to be heard at sentencing.
(a) A crime victim shall be allowed to present an oral or written victim impact statement in any case in which a defendant has been convicted of a violent crime or a juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent for a violent crime. The court shall allow a victim to make an oral impact statement if the victim is present in the courtroom and requests to make an oral statement. An oral statement includes the victim or a representative of the victim reading the written impact statement. The court may allow persons impacted by the crime who are not victims under subsection (a) of Section 3 of this Act to present an oral or written statement. A victim and any person making an oral statement shall not be put under oath or subject to cross-examination. The court shall consider any impact statement presented along with all other appropriate factors in determining the sentence of the defendant or disposition of such juvenile.
(a-1) In any case where a defendant has been convicted of a violation of any statute, ordinance, or regulation relating to the operation or use of motor vehicles, the use of streets and highways by pedestrians or the operation of any other wheeled or tracked vehicle, except parking violations, if the violation resulted in great bodily harm or death, the person who suffered great bodily harm, the injured person's representative, or the representative of a deceased person shall be entitled to notice of the sentencing hearing. "Representative" includes the spouse, guardian, grandparent, or other immediate family or household member of an injured or deceased person. The injured person or his or her representative and a representative of the deceased person shall have the right to address the court regarding the impact that the defendant's criminal conduct has had upon them. If more than one representative of an injured or deceased person is present in the courtroom at the time of sentencing, the court has discretion to permit one or more of the representatives to present an oral impact statement. A victim and any person making an oral statement shall not be put under oath or subject to cross-examination. The court shall consider any impact statement presented along with all other appropriate factors in determining the sentence of the defendant.
(a-5) A crime victim shall be allowed to present an oral and written victim impact statement at a hearing ordered by the court under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code to determine if the defendant is: (1) in need of mental health services on an inpatient basis; (2) in need of mental health services on an outpatient basis; or (3) not in need of mental health services. The court shall allow a victim to make an oral impact statement if the victim is present in the courtroom and requests to make an oral statement. An oral statement includes the victim or a representative of the victim reading the written impact statement. The court may allow persons impacted by the crime who are not victims under subsection (a) of Section 3 of this Act, to present an oral or written statement. A victim and any person making an oral statement shall not be put under oath or subject to cross-examination. The court may only consider the impact statement along with all other appropriate factors in determining the: (1) threat of serious physical harm poised by the respondent to himself or herself, or to another person; (2) location of inpatient or outpatient mental health services ordered by the court, but only after complying with all other applicable administrative, rule, and statutory requirements; (3) maximum period of commitment for inpatient mental health services; and (4) conditions of release for outpatient mental health services ordered by the court.
(b) The crime victim has the right to prepare a victim impact statement and present it to the Office of the State's Attorney at any time during the proceedings. Any written victim impact statement submitted to the Office of the State's Attorney shall be considered by the court during its consideration of aggravation and mitigation in plea proceedings under Supreme Court Rule 402.
(c) This Section shall apply to any victims during any dispositional hearing under Section 5-705 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 which takes place pursuant to an adjudication or trial or plea of delinquency for any such offense.
(Source: P.A. 99-413, eff. 8-20-15.)

(725 ILCS 120/7) (from Ch. 38, par. 1407)
Sec. 7. Responsibilities of victims and witnesses. Victims and witnesses shall have the following responsibilities to aid in the prosecution of violent crime and to ensure that their constitutional rights are enforced:
(a) To make a timely report of the crime;
(b) To cooperate with law enforcement authorities throughout the investigation, prosecution, and trial;
(c) To testify at trial;
(c-5) to timely provide information and documentation to the prosecuting attorney that is related to the assertion of their rights.
(d) To notify law enforcement authorities and the prosecuting attorney of any change of contact information, including but not limited to, changes of address and contact information, including but not limited to changes of address, telephone number, and email address. Law enforcement authorities and the prosecuting attorney shall maintain the confidentiality of this information. A court may find that the failure to notify the prosecuting attorney of any change in contact information constitutes waiver of a right.
(Source: P.A. 99-413, eff. 8-20-15.)

(725 ILCS 120/8)
Sec. 8. Privately operated crime victim and witness notification service. A county sheriff with the approval of the county board in counties with 3,000,000 or fewer inhabitants, or a county department of corrections with the approval of the county board of commissioners and under the direction of the sheriff in counties with more than 3,000,000 inhabitants, and the office of the State's Attorney with the approval of the respective county board or county board of commissioners may contract with a private entity to operate a crime victim and witness notification service. The county sheriff, the county department of corrections, and the State's Attorney shall make available to the private entity the information to implement the notification procedure in a timely manner. The private entity shall immediately deliver the notification information to the requesting crime victim or witness according to the requirements of this Act for certain offenses determined by the county board upon the release or discharge of a defendant or prisoner in county custody. The release of information to the private entity to implement the contract shall be limited to the extent necessary to comply with the provisions of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 90-744, eff. 1-1-99.)

(725 ILCS 120/8.5)
Sec. 8.5. Statewide victim and witness notification system.
(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. The system shall download necessary information from participating officials into its computers, where it shall be maintained, updated, and automatically transmitted to victims and witnesses by telephone, computer, written notice, SMS text message, or other electronic means.
(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.
(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 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.
(d) The provision of information to crime victims and witnesses through the Attorney General's notification system satisfies a given State or local official's corresponding obligation to provide the information.
(e) The Attorney General may provide for telephonic, electronic, or other public access to the database established under this Section.
(f) (Blank).
(g) There is established in the Office of the Attorney General a Crime Victim and Witness Notification Advisory Committee consisting of those victims advocates, sheriffs, State's Attorneys, circuit court clerks, Illinois Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and Prisoner Review Board employees that the Attorney General chooses to appoint. The Attorney General shall designate one member to chair the Committee.
(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:

(i) the design, scope, and operation of the

notification system;

(ii) the content of any rules adopted to

implement this Section;

(iii) the procurement of hardware, software, and

support for the system, including choice of supplier or operator; and

(iv) the acceptance of agreements with and the

award of equipment, software, or training to officials that seek to participate in the system.

(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.

(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.

(h) The Attorney General shall not release the names, addresses, phone numbers, personal identification numbers, or email addresses of any person registered to receive notifications to any other person except State or local officials using the notification system to satisfy the official's obligation to provide the information. The Attorney General may grant limited access to the Automated Victim Notification system (AVN) to law enforcement, prosecution, and other agencies that provide service to victims of violent crime to assist victims in enrolling and utilizing the AVN system.
(Source: P.A. 98-717, eff. 1-1-15; 99-413, eff. 8-20-15.)

(725 ILCS 120/9) (from Ch. 38, par. 1408)
Sec. 9. This Act does not limit any rights or responsibilities otherwise enjoyed by or imposed upon victims or witnesses of violent crime, nor does it grant any person a cause of action in equity or at law for compensation for damages or attorneys fees. Any act of omission or commission by any law enforcement officer, circuit court clerk, or State's Attorney, by the Attorney General, Prisoner Review Board, Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Human Services, or other State agency, or private entity under contract pursuant to Section 8, or by any employee of any State agency or private entity under contract pursuant to Section 8 acting in good faith in rendering crime victim's assistance or otherwise enforcing this Act shall not impose civil liability upon the individual or entity or his or her supervisor or employer. Nothing in this Act shall create a basis for vacating a conviction or a ground for relief requested by the defendant in any criminal case.
(Source: P.A. 99-413, eff. 8-20-15.)