From the Illinois Senate
Senator Toi Hutchinson

For Immediate Release:
August 27, 2009
Senator Hutchinson’s Office
Media Contact: Jillian Dykhoff 217.782.0085
Attorney General’s Office: Robyn Ziegler, 312.814.3118

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GOVERNOR SIGNS MEASURE UPDATING ILLINOIS STALKING LAWS

Springfield, IL- A measure designed to give Illinois law enforcement
officials more tools to combat stalking was approved this week by
Governor Pat Quinn.

House Bill 2542, an initiative of Attorney General Lisa Madigan,
effectively strengthens Illinois stalking and cyberstalking laws to
better protect victims of web-based stalking crimes.  Senator Toi
Hutchinson and Representatives Karen Yarbrough and Fred Crespo worked
with Attorney General Madigan to pass the proposal through the
legislature.

“Unlike other crimes, stalking is not a single, easily identifiable
incident but a series of acts directed against a victim,” Madigan said.
“So even when victims know there’s a danger, it can be difficult for law
enforcement to recognize, investigate, prosecute and convict stalkers.
This new law gives victims greater protection and law enforcement better
tools to prosecute and, ultimately, prevent incidents of stalking.”

House Bill 2542 effectively broadens the definition of stalking by
criminalizing behaviors that clearly cause victims fear or emotional
distress even if there has been no personal contact. Recognizing that
not all stalking behaviors involve threats of bodily harm, the
legislation establishes a procedure for victims to obtain a “stalking
no-contact order.” Previous law only allows orders of protection when an
established relationship exists between victims and their stalkers, but
statistics show that victims don’t always know their stalkers. In
addition, a recent report by the U.S. Department of Justice shows that
nearly 70 percent of stalking victims were unable to obtain protection
orders.

“This law will make it easier for victims to know what acts constitute
as stalking and provide evidence against their stalker,” Senator
Hutchinson said.  ”Also, with technology constantly advancing, stalkers
are finding new ways to harass their victims.  We must advance the laws
to keep up with new technology.”

The new law covers current and future technologies that stalkers may use
to track and harass their victims. Stalkers currently can use a range of
devices – such as computers, global positioning systems, or hidden
cameras – to track victims. By taking into consideration the way
stalkers use new technology, the legislation will enhance law
enforcement’s ability to protect victims.

“Victims of stalking and members of law enforcement need every option
available to protect themselves and their families, and this new law not
only brings the criminal code up-to-date with existing technologies, it
puts law enforcement ahead of the game by covering future cyberstalking
methods,” Yarbrough said.

“The more than one million victims of stalking every year are not only
subject to fear and intimidation tactics, they are also far more likely
to be physically or sexually abused by their stalkers,” state Rep. Fred
Crespo said. “As a lawmaker and a father of two young daughters, I want
to do everything possible to give victims and law enforcement the tools
they need to put a stop to stalkers and prevent violent crimes against
women before they happen.”

The crimes of stalking or cyberstalking are considered a Class 4 Felony
with one to three years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

“People should be punished accordingly for making others live in fear,”
Hutchinson said.  ”I’m proud that we have taken a strong step in making
our 20th century criminal code match the 21st century crimes we face.”

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