Subject Index Criminal Law and Procedure

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.

Henry Bruce Lemons was convicted of burglary on February 26, 1985, and received a sentence of 18 months of probation.

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.

Public Act 91-363 creates a new hearsay exception by adding section 115-10.4 to the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, 725 ILCS 5/100-1 et seq.

On January 7, 2000, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority ("Authority") adopted emergency amendments to the Illinois Administrative Code. 20 Ill Adm Code 1560.

On December 23, 1999, the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer adopted emergency rules to section 725 of the Illinois Administrative Code. 74 Ill Adm Code 725.

P.A. 91-657 makes several changes to the eavesdropping sections of the Illinois Criminal Code, 720 ILCS 5/14-1 et seq. The act also closes a loophole and makes additional amendments.

As of January 1, 2000, Illinois drivers who own or operate vehicles containing hidden compartments may be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. Public Act 91-359 amends the Vehicle Code by making it illegal to own or operate a motor vehicle when a person knows the vehicle contains a false or secret compartment.

Public Act 91-403 amends the Controlled Substances Act by making it unlawful to possess any methamphetamine-manufacturing chemical with the intent to manufacture meth.

Until recently, torturing animals was only a misdemeanor in Illinois. However, individuals who intentionally torture animals will now face up to three years in prison and will be forced to undergo psychological and psychiatric evaluations for a first offense.

Public Act 91-229 expands the definition of ``child'' with regard to the offense of child pornography to include any material that conveys the impression that the [material] is of a person under the age of 18.

Governor George Ryan recently signed four pieces of legislation that amend existing sex offense statutes to more forcefully combat an increased number of Internet-related sex offenses.

Governor George Ryan recently signed four pieces of legislation that amend existing sex offense statutes to more forcefully combat an increased number of Internet-related sex offenses.

Public Act 91-226 redefines the offense of indecent solicitation of a child to apply to additional incidents, including more Internet-related incidents.

On September 1, 1999, the third district of the Illinois Appellate Court reversed the trial court's decision to rescind the statutory summary suspension of the defendant's driver's license after the defendant was arrested for DUI.

Public Act 91-225 permits the creation of a ``multicounty Statewide Grand Jury'' to ``investigate, indict, and prosecute'' certain sex offenses when they are facilitated by the use of a computer.

Public Act 91-262 makes a domestic battery offender ``liable for the cost of any counseling required'' for a child under 18 years of age who ``was present and witnessed the domestic battery.''

Prior to Public Act 91-112, any first-time offense of domestic battery was a Class A misdemeanor, unless the offender previously violated an order of protection.

Three pieces of legislation signed in July and August by Governor George Ryan are intended to further deter and combat domestic battery.

Public Act 91-445 amends the Illinois Criminal Code of 1961, 720 ILCS 5/1-1 et seq., to create the offense of aggravated domestic battery.