Persons found not guilty by reason of insanity will bear the burden of proving that they are well enough to leave a secure mental hospital under an amendment to the Uniform Code of Corrections.
As a result of a new Illinois law, the Illinois State Police established a pilot program aimed at testing technology designed to measure driver impairment caused by alcohol or other drug use.
First-time offenders that place harassing telephone calls are normally guilty of a Class B misdemeanor, and repeat offenders face a minimum of 14 days in jail or 240 hours of public service work.
Under newly enacted amendments to the Illinois Vehicle Code, courts will have the resources to crack down on motorists who repeatedly violate traffic laws and take advantage of court supervision.
As a result of a new Illinois law, the Illinois State Police established a pilot program aimed at testing technology designed to measure driver impairment caused by alcohol or other drug use.
Although no sex offender will be forced to move from his or her home, certain offenders will no longer be allowed to reside near certain protected areas under a new Illinois law signed by Gov. George H. Ryan.
Knowingly videotaping or photographing persons in locker rooms, changing rooms, or hotel bedrooms will soon be a Class A misdemeanor under a new amendment to the Criminal Code.
Under a new Illinois law, sexual assault evidence collection kits may be released in an increased number of situations to facilitate prosecutions of alleged offenders.
The 91st General Assembly has taken a second major step toward ensuring criminal justice by requiring that physical evidence used to convict criminals be preserved for DNA and other testing in post-trial proceedings.
Public and appellate defenders and those who contract for their services are once again immune from legal and professional malpractice claims under a new Illinois law.
In response to a recent appellate court decision, the General Assembly passed and the governor recently approved legislation clarifying the process for requesting court-ordered evaluations in child custody proceedings.
During one of the shortest sessions in recent history, the General Assembly answered Gov. George H. Ryan's call for tax cuts during a year in which most legislators find themselves on the election ballot in November.
Public Act 91-699, which will take effect next year, expands the state's Circuit Breaker Program by increasing the minimum level of income for eligibility and expanding coverage for drugs used to treat certain diseases.
Calling the bill "one of the most important measures we have ever passed in Springfield," Gov. Ryan signed Public Act 91-700, which amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to establish the first state income tax credit for Illinois taxpayers.
Public Act 91-698, which became effective when signed on May 6, is designed to protect Illinois consumers from predatory lenders by authorizing the Department of Financial Institutions and the Office of Banks and Real Estate to promulgate rules regulatin regulating the activities of lenders they license.
During one of the briefest legislative sessions in recent memory, the General Assembly ended a four-month controversy over whether illegally transporting firearms should be considered a felony or misdemeanor in Illinois.
House Bill 3911 required Illinois law enforcement officers to record information about the race of motorists who received traffic or warning citations.
Pursuant to Public Act 91-469, "[a] person who drives a vehicle ... at a speed that is 40 miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit" commits a Class A misdemeanor.
Under two new laws that amend the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, some juveniles may soon be trading in their tattoos for additional community service hours.
Public Act 91-649 permissively approves sales taxes for all nonhome rule municipalities. Previously, a nonhome rule municipality needed at least 130,000 inhabitants to pursue a sales tax, which effectively precluded most proposals.
In a move to remedy some of the problems that have troubled the State Disbursement Unit for child support since its creation, Gov. George H. Ryan recently signed into law Public Act 91-677.
