101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB3166

 

Introduced 2/11/2020, by Sen. Rachelle Crowe

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
730 ILCS 5/5-5-3.1  from Ch. 38, par. 1005-5-3.1

    Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the grounds accorded weight in favor of withholding or minimizing a sentence of imprisonment include that the defendant is pregnant or is the parent of a child or infant whose well-being will be negatively affected by the parent's absence. Provides that circumstances to be considered in assessing this factor in mitigation include: (1) the likelihood that the child will be adjudged a dependent minor and declared a ward of the court under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987; and (2) the best interest of the child.


LRB101 15816 RLC 65171 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3166LRB101 15816 RLC 65171 b

1    AN ACT concerning criminal law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Unified Code of Corrections is amended by
5changing Section 5-5-3.1 as follows:
 
6    (730 ILCS 5/5-5-3.1)  (from Ch. 38, par. 1005-5-3.1)
7    Sec. 5-5-3.1. Factors in mitigation.
8    (a) The following grounds shall be accorded weight in favor
9of withholding or minimizing a sentence of imprisonment:
10        (1) The defendant's criminal conduct neither caused
11    nor threatened serious physical harm to another.
12        (2) The defendant did not contemplate that his criminal
13    conduct would cause or threaten serious physical harm to
14    another.
15        (3) The defendant acted under a strong provocation.
16        (4) There were substantial grounds tending to excuse or
17    justify the defendant's criminal conduct, though failing
18    to establish a defense.
19        (5) The defendant's criminal conduct was induced or
20    facilitated by someone other than the defendant.
21        (6) The defendant has compensated or will compensate
22    the victim of his criminal conduct for the damage or injury
23    that he sustained.

 

 

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1        (7) The defendant has no history of prior delinquency
2    or criminal activity or has led a law-abiding life for a
3    substantial period of time before the commission of the
4    present crime.
5        (8) The defendant's criminal conduct was the result of
6    circumstances unlikely to recur.
7        (9) The character and attitudes of the defendant
8    indicate that he is unlikely to commit another crime.
9        (10) The defendant is particularly likely to comply
10    with the terms of a period of probation.
11        (11) (Blank).
12        (12) The imprisonment of the defendant would endanger
13    his or her medical condition.
14        (13) The defendant was a person with an intellectual
15    disability as defined in Section 5-1-13 of this Code.
16        (14) The defendant sought or obtained emergency
17    medical assistance for an overdose and was convicted of a
18    Class 3 felony or higher possession, manufacture, or
19    delivery of a controlled, counterfeit, or look-alike
20    substance or a controlled substance analog under the
21    Illinois Controlled Substances Act or a Class 2 felony or
22    higher possession, manufacture or delivery of
23    methamphetamine under the Methamphetamine Control and
24    Community Protection Act.
25        (15) At the time of the offense, the defendant is or
26    had been the victim of domestic violence and the effects of

 

 

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1    the domestic violence tended to excuse or justify the
2    defendant's criminal conduct. As used in this paragraph
3    (15), "domestic violence" means abuse as defined in Section
4    103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986.
5        (16) At the time of the offense, the defendant was
6    suffering from a serious mental illness which, though
7    insufficient to establish the defense of insanity,
8    substantially affected his or her ability to understand the
9    nature of his or her acts or to conform his or her conduct
10    to the requirements of the law.
11        (17) At the time of the offense, the defendant was
12    suffering from post-partum depression or post-partum
13    psychosis which was either undiagnosed or untreated, or
14    both, and this temporary mental illness tended to excuse or
15    justify the defendant's criminal conduct and the defendant
16    has been diagnosed as suffering from post-partum
17    depression or post-partum psychosis, or both, by a
18    qualified medical person and the diagnoses or testimony, or
19    both, was not used at trial. In this paragraph (17):
20            "Post-partum depression" means a mood disorder
21        which strikes many women during and after pregnancy
22        which usually occurs during pregnancy and up to 12
23        months after delivery. This depression can include
24        anxiety disorders.
25            "Post-partum psychosis" means an extreme form of
26        post-partum depression which can occur during

 

 

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1        pregnancy and up to 12 months after delivery. This can
2        include losing touch with reality, distorted thinking,
3        delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations,
4        paranoia, hyperactivity and rapid speech, or mania.
5        (18) The defendant is pregnant or is the parent of a
6    child or infant whose well-being will be negatively
7    affected by the parent's absence. Circumstances to be
8    considered in assessing this factor in mitigation include:
9            (A) that the parent is breastfeeding the child;
10            (B) the age of the child, with strong consideration
11        given to avoid disruption of the caregiving of an
12        infant, pre-school or school-age child by a parent;
13            (C) the role of the parent in the day-to-day
14        educational and medical needs of the child;
15            (D) the relationship of the parent and the child;
16            (E) any special medical, educational, or
17        psychological needs of the child;
18            (F) the role of the parent in the financial support
19        of the child; .
20            (G) the likelihood that the child will be adjudged
21        a dependent minor under Section 2-4 and declared a ward
22        of the court under Section 2-22 of the Juvenile Court
23        Act of 1987;
24            (H) the best interest of the child.
25        Under this Section, the defendant shall have the right
26    to present a Family Impact Statement at sentencing, which

 

 

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1    the court shall consider in favor of withholding or
2    minimizing a sentence of imprisonment prior to imposing any
3    sentence and may include testimony from family and
4    community members, written statements, video, and
5    documentation. Unless the court finds that the parent poses
6    a significant risk to the community that outweighs the risk
7    of harm from the parent's removal from the family, the
8    court shall impose a sentence in accordance with subsection
9    (b) that allows the parent to continue to care for the
10    child or children.
11        (19) The defendant serves as the caregiver for a
12    relative who is ill, disabled, or elderly.
13    (b) If the court, having due regard for the character of
14the offender, the nature and circumstances of the offense and
15the public interest finds that a sentence of imprisonment is
16the most appropriate disposition of the offender, or where
17other provisions of this Code mandate the imprisonment of the
18offender, the grounds listed in paragraph (a) of this
19subsection shall be considered as factors in mitigation of the
20term imposed.
21(Source: P.A. 100-574, eff. 6-1-18; 101-471, eff. 1-1-20.)