Legislation signed by Gov. Ryan in January amends the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act to authorize sexual assault nurse examiners to perform examinations of sexual assault victims using a State Police Evidence Collection Kit (SPECK).
Legislation recently signed into law by Gov. George H. Ryan amends the Counties Code by requiring the state of Illinois to pay 66 2/3 percent of a public defender's annual salary in every county within the state.
In January, Gov. Ryan signed into law Senate Bill 175, which amended the Criminal Code of 1961 by making a misdemeanor offense of battery a felony offense of aggravated battery when the battery occurs in a building or other structure used to provide shelter or other services to domestic violence victims or the victims' dependent children.
Beginning June 1, 2002, parents may be subject to up to a year in jail or a $2,500 fine if they leave a child unattended in a car for an extended period of time.
On December 21, 2001, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Second District, reversed the trial court's decision requiring a juvenile to register as a sex offender.
In last term's Kyllo decision, the Supreme Court restricted police power to use sense-enhancing technology. Here's an analysis of the decision and its implications.
Because of a recent Illinois Supreme Court decision, more state's attorneys will pass up the Sexually Dangerous Persons Act in favor of criminal prosecution, a downstate prosecutor opines.
On September 17, 2001, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (Authority) adopted additions to section 1580 of the Illinois Administrative Code. 20 Ill Adm Code 1580.
On September 7, 2001, the seventh circuit court of appeals affirmed the defendant's convictions for several drug-related possession and distribution charges and his prison sentence of 468 months.
When Gov. Ryan signed P.A. 91-871 (governing evidence retention) in June of 2000, he expressed concerns with a number of provisions in the law including overbroad application to all physical evidence, arbitrary time limits for retention of evidence and unclear guidelines for the court in granting requests for early disposition of evidence.
Gov. George H. Ryan approved legislation in August that will place ecstasy and other "club drugs" on par with controlled substances such as cocaine, heroin, morphine, methamphetamines, and LSD.
On June 1, 2001, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed defendant Michael Wagener's convictions. Wagener appealed his convictions for murder and concealment of homicidal death on two grounds.
The General Assembly approved a new gun control measure that would require convicted felons to surrender their guns and Firearm Ownership Identification Cards before going to prison.
