2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes
Chapter 725 - CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
725 ILCS 173/ - Violent Crime Witness Protection Act.
(725 ILCS 173/1)
Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Violent Crime Witness Protection Act.
(Source: P.A. 102-756, eff. 5-10-22.)
(725 ILCS 173/5)
Sec. 5. Definition. As used in this Act, "violent crime" means a violent crime as that term is defined in Section 3 of the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act.
(Source: P.A. 102-756, eff. 5-10-22.)
(725 ILCS 173/10)
Sec. 10. Financial Assistance Program. No later than January 1, 2023, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, shall establish a program to assist victims and witnesses who are actively aiding in the prosecution of perpetrators of violent crime, and appropriate related persons or victims and witnesses determined by the Authority to be at risk of a discernible threat of violent crime. The program shall be administered by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. The program shall offer, among other things, financial assistance, including financial assistance on an emergency basis, that may be provided upon application by a State's Attorney or the Attorney General, or a chief executive of a police agency from funds deposited in the Violent Crime Witness Protection Program Fund and appropriated from that Fund for the purposes of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 102-756, eff. 5-10-22.)
(725 ILCS 173/15)
Sec. 15. Funding. The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, shall adopt rules for the implementation of the Violent Crime Witness Protection Program. Assistance shall be subject to the following limitations:
- (a) Funds shall be limited to payment of the following:
- (1) emergency or temporary living costs;
- (2) moving expenses;
- (3) rent;
- (3.5) utilities;
- (4) security deposits for rent and utilities;
- (5) other appropriate expenses of relocation or transition;
- (6) mental health treatment; and
- (7) lost wage assistance.
- (b) Approval of applications made by State's Attorneys shall be conditioned upon county funding for costs at a level of at least 25%, unless this requirement is waived by the administrator, in accordance with adopted rules, for good cause shown.
- (c) Counties providing assistance consistent with the limitations in this Act may apply for reimbursement of up to 75% of their costs.
- (d) No more than 50% of funding available in any given fiscal year may be used for costs associated with any single county.
- (d-5) Funds may also be requested by local law enforcement agencies and, notwithstanding subsection (a), used to establish local violent crime witness protection programs.
- (e) Before the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority distributes moneys from the Violent Crime Witness Protection Program Fund as provided in this Section, it shall retain 5% of those moneys for administrative purposes.
- (f) Direct reimbursement is allowed in whole or in part.
- (g) Implementation of the Violent Crime Witness Protection Program is contingent upon and subject to there being made sufficient appropriations for implementation of that program.
(Source: P.A. 102-756, eff. 5-10-22.)
(725 ILCS 173/20)
Sec. 20. Violent Crime Witness Protection Program Fund. There is created in the State treasury the Violent Crime Witness Protection Program Fund into which shall be deposited appropriated funds, grants, or other funds made available to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority to assist State's Attorneys and the Attorney General in protecting victims and witnesses who are aiding in the prosecution of perpetrators of violent crime, and appropriate related persons or victims and witnesses determined by the Authority to be at risk of a discernible threat of violent crime.
(Source: P.A. 102-756, eff. 5-10-22.)
(725 ILCS 173/25)
Sec. 25. Beginning of operation. Subject to appropriation, the program created by this Act shall begin operation on January 1, 2023.
(Source: P.A. 102-756, eff. 5-10-22.)
(725 ILCS 173/90)
Sec. 90. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 98-58, eff. 7-8-13; text omitted.)
(725 ILCS 173/99)
Sec. 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 98-58, eff. 7-8-13.)
