Bill > HB3785

This bill amends the Criminal Code of 2012 to clarify and modify provisions related to legal accountability in criminal offenses. The bill defines legal accountability as situations where a person causes another to commit an offense, is specifically made accountable by statute, or aids and abets another person in planning or committing an offense. It establishes that when multiple people engage in a common criminal design, each person can be held responsible for actions taken in furtherance of that design, though mere presence at a crime scene is not sufficient for accountability. The bill also outlines exceptions to accountability, such as being a victim of the offense, having conduct that was inevitably part of the offense, or taking steps to prevent the offense before its commission. Importantly, the bill introduces a detailed sentencing framework that reduces the severity of sentences for offenses based on legal accountability, with the reduction depending on the original class of felony or misdemeanor. For example, legal accountability for a first-degree murder would result in a Class X felony sentence, while legal accountability for a Class 4 felony would result in a Class B misdemeanor sentence. This approach aims to provide more nuanced and potentially less punitive sentencing for individuals found legally accountable for criminal actions.

Justice

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=3785&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104