Topic:
One-party consent wiretapping
(Gordon, D-Peoria) amends the Illinois Eavesdropping Act to allow police eavesdropping if there is (1) one-party consent from an officer or confidential informant, (2) approval from a state’s attorney, and (3) reasonable suspicion of a drug deal within 24 hours. No prior judicial approval is needed. The conversations heard or recorded would be admissible to prosecute a drug crime, or forcible felony in the course of a drug crime. There is a 2015 sunset. It is scheduled for hearing today in House Executive Committee. Interesting that the General Assembly is creating yet another exemption allowing police eavesdropping without prior judicial approval but continues to make it a Class 1 felony for a citizen to record an officer in a public place doing public duty.