Criminal Justice (Courts)

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that a petition for a certificate of innocence shall state facts in sufficient detail to permit the court to find that the petitioner is likely to succeed at trial in proving that the petitioner is innocent of the alleged offenses for which the person was convicted (rather than innocent of the offenses charged in the indictment or information) or that his or her acts or omissions for which he or she was convicted (instead of for those charged in the indictment or information) did not constitute a felony or misdemeanor against the State of Illinois. Provides that in order to obtain a certificate of innocence, the petitioner must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the petitioner is innocent of the alleged offenses for which he or she was convicted (rather than offenses charged in the indictment or information) or that his or her acts or omissions for which he or she was convicted (instead of those charged in the indictment or information) did not constitute a felony or misdemeanor against the State of Illinois. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act apply to petitions filed on and after September 22, 2008.

Creates the Capital Crimes Litigation Act of 2025. Provides that if an indigent defendant is charged with an offense for which a sentence of death is authorized, and the State's Attorney has not, at or before arraignment, filed a certificate indicating he or she will not seek the death penalty or stated on the record in open court that the death penalty will not be sought, the trial court shall appoint the Public Defender or another qualified attorney to represent the defendant. Creates the Capital Litigation Trust Fund. Provides that moneys deposited into the Fund shall be used exclusively to provide funding for the prosecution and defense of capital cases and post-conviction proceedings. Amends the State Finance Act. Repeals the Death Penalty Abolition Fund and reinstates the Capital Litigation Trust Fund. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Reinstates the death penalty if: (1) the murdered individual was a peace officer, fireman, emergency medical technician - ambulance, emergency medical technician - intermediate, emergency medical technician - paramedic, ambulance driver, or other medical assistance or first aid personnel, employed by a municipality or other governmental unit killed in the course of performing his or her official duties, to prevent the performance of his or her official duties, or in retaliation for performing his or her official duties, and the defendant knew or should have known the status of the murdered individual; (2) the murdered individual was an employee of an institution or facility of the Department of Corrections, or any similar local correctional agency, killed in the course of performing his or her official duties, to prevent the performance of his or her official duties, or in retaliation for performing his or her official duties; or (3) the murdered individual was an investigator or caseworker with the Adult Protective Services Program or an ombudsman under the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program of the Department on Aging, an investigator or employee of the Department of Children and Family Services, or a special agent with the Illinois Liquor Control Commission or the Department of Revenue. Amends the Freedom of Information Act, the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, and the State Appellate Defender Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person also commits criminal damage to property when he or she intentionally damages, destroys, or tampers with equipment in a critical infrastructure facility without authorization from the critical infrastructure facility. Provides that a violation is: (1) a Class 4 felony when the damage to property does not exceed $500; (2) a Class 3 felony when the damage to property exceeds $500 but does not exceed $10,000; and (3) a Class 2 felony when the damage to property exceeds $10,000. Provides that a person may be liable in any civil action for money damages to the owner of the critical infrastructure facility for any damage resulting from a violation. Provides that it is an affirmative defense to a violation that the owner of the property or land damaged consented to the damage. Provides that a person may also be liable to the owner for court costs and reasonable attorney's fees resulting from a violation. Changes the name of the offense of criminal trespass to a nuclear facility to criminal trespass to a critical infrastructure facility. Includes as an element of the offense that the person must have the intent to damage, destroy, or tamper with equipment of the facility. Provides that a person may also be liable in a civil action for money damages to the owner of the critical infrastructure facility for any damage to personal or real property of the facility resulting from the trespass. Provides that a person may also be liable to the owner for court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. Defines "critical infrastructure facility" and "with the intent to damage, destroy, or tamper with equipment of the facility".

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the court shall sentence the defendant to a term of natural life imprisonment for first degree murder if the defendant, at the time of the commission of the murder, had attained the age of 18, and is found guilty of the first degree murder of a child under the age of 5 who is determined by the court, upon testimony of a physician, to have died from abusive head trauma caused by the defendant. Provides that "abusive head trauma" includes shaken baby syndrome. Defines "abusive head trauma" and shaken baby syndrome".

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that upon verified petition by the State, the court shall hold a hearing and may deny a defendant pretrial release if: (1) the defendant is charged with a felony offense (rather than specified felonies) and it is alleged that the defendant's pretrial release poses a real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons or the community, based on the specific articulable facts of the case; (2) the defendant is charged with a felony offense (rather than specific felonies) and has a high likelihood of willful flight to avoid prosecution; or (3) the defendant has been convicted of 2 or more of the same felonies or misdemeanors and either: (i) it is alleged that the defendant's pretrial release poses a real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons or the community, based on the specific articulable facts of the case; or (ii) the defendant has a high likelihood of willful flight to avoid prosecution. Changes the State's burden of proof in a pretrial detention hearing seeking the defendant's detention from clear and convincing evidence to a preponderance of the evidence.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that, upon petition of the State's Attorney of the county prosecuting a defendant on pretrial release or upon motion of the court, the court may revoke or impose sanctions on a defendant who is released on pretrial release if the defendant has violated any of the conditions of pretrial release.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that when a defendant has previously been granted pretrial release for any offense (rather than for a felony or Class A misdemeanor), that pretrial release shall (rather than may) be revoked if the defendant is charged with an offense that is alleged to have occurred during the defendant's pretrial release, regardless of the classification of offense (rather than charged with a felony or Class A misdemeanor) after a hearing on the court's own motion or upon the filing of a verified petition by the State.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that notwithstanding the provisions of the pretrial release statute concerning conditions for denial of pretrial release to the contrary, if the defendant is charged with a felony, the court may, in its discretion, deny the defendant pretrial release. Provides that if the court denies the defendant pretrial release under this provision, the court must state, in writing, the court's reasons for denying the defendant pretrial release.