Topic:
Fitness hearings and medical records
(Barickman, R-Champaign; Frerichs, D-Gifford) clarifies how a defendant's medical records are given to a court-appointed expert for a determination of the defendant's fitness to stand trial. It allows court-appointed experts access to records and communications if the records were made within the 180-day period immediately preceding the date of the expert's court appointment. These records and communications are admissible only as to the issue of the person's fitness to stand trial. Effective January 1, 2012.