ILLINOIS TERRORISM LAW



CRIMINAL OFFENSES
(720 ILCS 5/) Criminal Code of 1961.

  
    (720 ILCS 5/Art. 29D heading)




ARTICLE 29D. TERRORISM



    (720 ILCS 5/29D-5) 
    Sec. 29D-5. Legislative findings. The devastating consequences of the barbaric attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 underscore the compelling need for legislation that is specifically designed to combat the evils of terrorism. Terrorism is inconsistent with civilized society and cannot be tolerated. 


    A comprehensive State law is urgently needed to complement federal laws in the fight against terrorism and to better protect all citizens against terrorist acts. Accordingly, the legislature finds that our laws must be strengthened to ensure that terrorists, as well as those who solicit or provide financial and other support to terrorists, are prosecuted and punished in State courts with appropriate severity. The legislature further finds that due to the grave nature and global reach of terrorism that a comprehensive law encompassing State criminal statutes and strong civil remedies is needed. 


    An investigation may not be initiated or continued for activities protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, including expressions of support or the provision of financial support for the nonviolent political, religious, philosophical, or ideological goals or beliefs of any person or group. 
(Source: P.A. 92-854, eff. 12-5-02.)


    (720 ILCS 5/29D-10) 
    Sec. 29D-10. Definitions. As used in this Article, where not otherwise distinctly expressed or manifestly incompatible with the intent of this Article: 


    (a) "Computer network" means a set of related, remotely connected devices and any communications facilities including more than one computer with the capability to transmit data among them through communication facilities. 


    (b) "Computer" means a device that accepts, processes, stores, retrieves, or outputs data, and includes, but is not limited to, auxiliary storage and telecommunications devices. 


    (c) "Computer program" means a series of coded instruction or statements in a form acceptable to a computer which causes the computer to process data and supply the results of data processing. 


    (d) "Data" means representations of information, knowledge, facts, concepts or instructions, including program documentation, that are prepared in a formalized manner and are stored or processed in or transmitted by a computer. Data may be in any form, including but not limited to magnetic or optical storage media, punch cards, or data stored internally in the memory of a computer. 


    (e) "Biological products used in or in connection with agricultural production" includes, but is not limited to, seeds, plants, and DNA of plants or animals altered for use in crop or livestock breeding or production or which are sold, intended, designed, or produced for use in crop production or livestock breeding or production. 


    (f) "Agricultural products" means crops and livestock. 


    (g) "Agricultural production" means the breeding and growing of livestock and crops.


    (g-5) "Animal feed" means an article that is intended for use for food for animals other than humans and that is intended for use as a substantial source of nutrients in the diet of the animal, and is not limited to a mixture intended to be the sole ration of the animal.


    (g-10) "Contagious or infectious disease" means a specific disease designated by the Illinois Department of Agriculture as contagious or infectious under rules pertaining to the Illinois Diseased Animals Act.
    (g-15) "Processed food" means any food other than a raw agricultural commodity and includes any raw agricultural commodity that has been subject to processing, such as canning, cooking, freezing, dehydration, or milling.


    (g-20) "Raw agricultural commodity" means any food in its raw or natural state, including all fruits that are washed, colored, or otherwise treated in their unpeeled natural form prior to marketing and honey that is in the comb or that is removed from the comb and in an unadulterated condition. 
    (g-25) "Endangering the food supply" means to knowingly:


        (1) bring into this State any domestic animal that
    
is affected with any contagious or infectious disease or any animal that has been exposed to any contagious or infectious disease;

        (2) expose any animal in this State to any contagious
    
or infectious disease;
        (3) deliver any poultry that is infected with any
    
contagious or infectious disease to any poultry producer pursuant to a production contract;

        (4) except as permitted under the Insect Pest and
    
Plant Disease Act, bring or release into this State any insect pest or expose any plant to an insect pest; or

        (5) expose any raw agricultural commodity, animal
    
feed, or processed food to any contaminant or contagious or infectious disease.

    "Endangering the food supply" does not include bona fide experiments and actions related to those experiments carried on by commonly recognized research facilities or actions by agricultural producers and animal health professionals who may inadvertently contribute to the spread of detrimental biological agents while employing generally acceptable management practices.

    (g-30) "Endangering the water supply" means to knowingly contaminate a public or private water well or water reservoir or any water supply of a public utility or tamper with the production of bottled or packaged water or tamper with bottled or packaged water at a retail or wholesale mercantile establishment. "Endangering the water supply" does not include contamination of a public or private well or water reservoir or any water supply of a public utility that may occur inadvertently as part of the operation of a public utility or electrical generating station. 


    (h) "Livestock" means animals bred or raised for human consumption.

    (i) "Crops" means plants raised for: (1) human consumption, (2) fruits that are intended for human consumption, (3) consumption by livestock, and (4) fruits that are intended for consumption by livestock. 


    (j) "Communications systems" means any works, property, or material of any radio, telegraph, telephone, microwave, or cable line, station, or system.

    (k) "Substantial damage" means monetary damage greater than $100,000.

    (l) "Terrorist act" or "act of terrorism" means: 


(1) any act that is intended to cause or create a risk and does cause or create a risk of death or great bodily harm to one or more persons; 


(2) any act that disables or destroys the usefulness or operation of any communications system; 


(3) any act or any series of 2 or more acts committed in furtherance of a single intention, scheme, or design that disables or destroys the usefulness or operation of a computer network, computers, computer programs, or data used by any industry, by any class of business, or by 5 or more businesses or by the federal government, State government, any unit of local government, a public utility, a manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, a national defense contractor, or a manufacturer of chemical or biological products used in or in connection with agricultural production; 


(4) any act that disables or causes substantial damage to or destruction of any structure or facility used in or used in connection with ground, air, or water transportation; the production or distribution of electricity, gas, oil, or other fuel (except for acts that occur inadvertently and as the result of operation of the facility that produces or distributes electricity, gas, oil, or other fuel); the treatment of sewage or the treatment or distribution of water; or controlling the flow of any body of water; 


(5) any act that causes substantial damage to or destruction of livestock or to crops or a series of 2 or more acts committed in furtherance of a single intention, scheme, or design which, in the aggregate, causes substantial damage to or destruction of livestock or crops; 


(6) any act that causes substantial damage to or destruction of any hospital or any building or facility used by the federal government, State government, any unit of local government or by a national defense contractor or by a public utility, a manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, a manufacturer of chemical or biological products used in or in connection with agricultural production or the storage or processing of agricultural products or the preparation of agricultural products for food or food products intended for resale or for feed for livestock;


 (7) any act that causes substantial damage to any building containing 5 or more businesses of any type or to any building in which 10 or more people reside; 


(8) endangering the food supply; or (9) endangering the water supply. 


    (m) "Terrorist" and "terrorist organization" means any person who engages or is about to engage in a terrorist act with the intent to intimidate or coerce a significant portion of a civilian population. 


    (n) "Material support or resources" means currency or other financial securities, financial services, lodging, training, safe houses, false documentation or identification, communications equipment, facilities, weapons, lethal substances, explosives, personnel, transportation, any other kind of physical assets or intangible property, and expert services or expert assistance. 


    (o) "Person" has the meaning given in Section 2-15 of this Code and, in addition to that meaning, includes, without limitation, any charitable organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, any professional fund raiser, professional solicitor, limited liability company, association, joint stock company, association, trust, trustee, or any group of people formally or informally affiliated or associated for a common purpose, and any officer, director, partner, member, or agent of any person. 


    (p) "Render criminal assistance" means to do any of the following with the intent to prevent, hinder, or delay the discovery or apprehension of, or the lodging of a criminal charge against, a person who he or she knows or believes has committed an offense under this Article or is being sought by law enforcement officials for the commission of an offense under this Article, or with the intent to assist a person in profiting or benefiting from the commission of an offense under this Article: 


        (1) harbor or conceal the person; 


        (2) warn the person of impending discovery or
    
apprehension;
        (3) provide the person with money, transportation, a
    
weapon, a disguise, false identification documents, or any other means of avoiding discovery or apprehension;

        (4) prevent or obstruct, by means of force,
    
intimidation, or deception, anyone from performing an act that might aid in the discovery or apprehension of the person or in the lodging of a criminal charge against the person;

        (5) suppress, by any act of concealment, alteration,
    
or destruction, any physical evidence that might aid in the discovery or apprehension of the person or in the lodging of a criminal charge against the person;

        (6) aid the person to protect or expeditiously profit
    
from an advantage derived from the crime; or
        (7) provide expert services or expert assistance to
    
the person. Providing expert services or expert assistance shall not be construed to apply to: (1) a licensed attorney who discusses with a client the legal consequences of a proposed course of conduct or advises a client of legal or constitutional rights and (2) a licensed medical doctor who provides emergency medical treatment to a person whom he or she believes has committed an offense under this Article if, as soon as reasonably practicable either before or after providing such treatment, he or she notifies a law enforcement agency.
(Source: P.A. 96-1028, eff. 1-1-11.)



    (720 ILCS 5/29D-14.9) (was 720 ILCS 5/29D-30) 
    Sec. 29D-14.9. Terrorism. 


    (a) A person commits the offense of terrorism when, with the intent to intimidate or coerce a significant portion of a civilian population: 


        (1) he or she knowingly commits a terrorist act as
    
defined in Section 29D-10(1) of this Code within this State; or
        (2) he or she, while outside this State, knowingly
    
commits a terrorist act as defined in Section 29D-10(1) of this Code that takes effect within this State or produces substantial detrimental effects within this State.

    (b) Sentence. Terrorism is a Class X felony. If no deaths are caused by the terrorist act, the sentence shall be a term of 20 years to natural life imprisonment; if the terrorist act caused the death of one or more persons, however, a mandatory term of natural life imprisonment shall be the sentence if the death penalty is not imposed. 
(Source: P.A. 96-710, eff. 1-1-10.)



    (720 ILCS 5/29D-15) 
    Sec. 29D-15. (Renumbered). 
(Source: Renumbered by P.A. 96-710, eff. 1-1-10.)


    (720 ILCS 5/29D-15.1) (was 720 ILCS 5/20.5-5) 
    Sec. 29D-15.1. Causing a catastrophe. 
    (a) A person commits the offense of causing a catastrophe if he or she knowingly causes a catastrophe by explosion, fire, flood, collapse of a building, or release of poison, radioactive material, bacteria, virus, or other dangerous and difficult to confine force or substance. 


    (b) As used in this Section, "catastrophe" means serious physical injury to 5 or more persons, substantial damage to 5 or more buildings or inhabitable structures, or substantial damage to a vital public facility that seriously impairs its usefulness or operation; and "vital public facility" means a facility that is necessary to ensure or protect the public health, safety, or welfare, including, but not limited to, a hospital, a law enforcement agency, a fire department, a private or public utility company, a national defense contractor, a facility of the armed forces, or an emergency services agency. 


    (c) Sentence. Causing a catastrophe is a Class X felony. 
(Source: P.A. 96-710, eff. 1-1-10.)


    (720 ILCS 5/29D-15.2) (was 720 ILCS 5/20.5-6) 
    Sec. 29D-15.2. Possession of a deadly substance. 


    (a) A person commits the offense of possession of a deadly substance when he or she possesses, manufactures, or transports any poisonous gas, deadly biological or chemical contaminant or agent, or radioactive substance either with the intent to use that gas, biological or chemical contaminant or agent, or radioactive substance to commit a felony or with the knowledge that another person intends to use that gas, biological or chemical contaminant or agent, or radioactive substance to commit a felony. 


    (b) Sentence. Possession of a deadly substance is a Class 1 felony for which a person, if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, shall be sentenced to a term of not less than 4 years and not more than 30 years. 
(Source: P.A. 96-710, eff. 1-1-10.)


    (720 ILCS 5/29D-20) 
    Sec. 29D-20. Making a terrorist threat. 


    (a) A person is guilty of making a terrorist threat when, with the intent to intimidate or coerce a significant portion of a civilian population, he or she in any manner knowingly threatens to commit or threatens to cause the commission of a terrorist act as defined in Section 29D-10(1) and thereby causes a reasonable expectation or fear of the imminent commission of a terrorist act as defined in Section 29D-10(1) or of another terrorist act as defined in Section 29D-10(1). 


    (b) It is not a defense to a prosecution under this Section that at the time the defendant made the terrorist threat, unknown to the defendant, it was impossible to carry out the threat, nor is it a defense that the threat was not made to a person who was a subject or intended victim of the threatened act. 


    (c) Sentence. Making a terrorist threat is a Class X felony. 


    (d) In addition to any other sentence that may be imposed, the court shall order any person convicted of making a terrorist threat involving a threat that a bomb or explosive device has been placed in a school to reimburse the unit of government that employs the emergency response officer or officers that were dispatched to the school for the cost of the search for a bomb or explosive device. For the purposes of this Section, "emergency response" means any incident requiring a response by a police officer, a firefighter, a State Fire Marshal employee, or an ambulance. 
(Source: P.A. 96-413, eff. 8-13-09.)


    (720 ILCS 5/29D-25) 
    Sec. 29D-25. Falsely making a terrorist threat. 


    (a) A person commits the offense of falsely making a terrorist threat when in any manner he or she knowingly makes a threat to commit or cause to be committed a terrorist act as defined in Section 29D-10(1) or otherwise knowingly creates the impression or belief that a terrorist act is about to be or has been committed, or in any manner knowingly makes a threat to commit or cause to be committed a catastrophe as defined in Section 29D-15.1 (720 ILCS 5/29D-15.1) of this Code that he or she knows is false. 


    (b) Sentence. Falsely making a terrorist threat is a Class 1 felony. 


    (c) In addition to any other sentence that may be imposed, the court shall order any person convicted of falsely making a terrorist threat, involving a threat that a bomb or explosive device has been placed in a school in which the offender knows that such bomb or explosive device was not placed in the school, to reimburse the unit of government that employs the emergency response officer or officers that were dispatched to the school for the cost of the search for a bomb or explosive device. For the purposes of this Section, "emergency response" means any incident requiring a response by a police officer, a firefighter, a State Fire Marshal employee, or an ambulance. 
(Source: P.A. 96-413, eff. 8-13-09; 96-710, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)


    (720 ILCS 5/29D-29.9) (was 720 ILCS 5/29D-15) 
    Sec. 29D-29.9. Material support for terrorism.


    (a) A person commits the offense of soliciting or providing material support for terrorism if he or she knowingly raises, solicits, collects, or provides material support or resources knowing that the material support or resources will be used, in whole or in part, to plan, prepare, carry out, facilitate, or avoid apprehension for committing terrorism as defined in Section 29D-14.9 (720 ILCS 5/29D-14.9) or causing a catastrophe as defined in Section 29D-15.1 (720 ILCS 5/29D-15.1) of this Code, or who knows and intends that the material support or resources so raised, solicited, collected, or provided will be used in the commission of a terrorist act as defined in Section 29D-10(1) of this Code by an organization designated under 8 U.S.C. 1189, as amended. It is not an element of the offense that the defendant actually knows that an organization has been designated under 8 U.S.C. 1189, as amended.

    (b) Sentence. Soliciting or providing material support for terrorism is a Class X felony for which the sentence shall be a term of imprisonment of no less than 9 years and no more than 40 years. 
(Source: P.A. 96-710, eff. 1-1-10.)



    (720 ILCS 5/29D-30) 
    Sec. 29D-30. (Renumbered). 
(Source: Renumbered by P.A. 96-710, eff. 1-1-10.)


    (720 ILCS 5/29D-35) 
    Sec. 29D-35. Hindering prosecution of terrorism. 


    (a) A person commits the offense of hindering prosecution of terrorism when he or she renders criminal assistance to a person who has committed terrorism as defined in Section 29D-14.9 or caused a catastrophe as defined in Section 29D-15.1 of this Code when he or she knows that the person to whom he or she rendered criminal assistance engaged in an act of terrorism or caused a catastrophe. 


    (b) Hindering prosecution of terrorism is a Class X felony, the sentence for which shall be a term of 20 years to natural life imprisonment if no death was caused by the act of terrorism committed by the person to whom the defendant rendered criminal assistance and a mandatory term of natural life imprisonment if death was caused by the act of terrorism committed by the person to whom the defendant rendered criminal assistance. 
(Source: P.A. 96-710, eff. 1-1-10.)


    (720 ILCS 5/29D-35.1)
    Sec. 29D-35.1. Boarding or attempting to board an aircraft with weapon. 


    (a) It is unlawful for any person to board or attempt to board any commercial or charter aircraft, knowingly having in his or her possession any firearm, explosive of any type, or other lethal or dangerous weapon. 


    (b) This Section does not apply to any person authorized by either the federal government or any state government to carry firearms, but the person so exempted from the provisions of this Section shall notify the commander of any aircraft he or she is about to board that he or she does possess a firearm and show identification satisfactory to the aircraft commander that he or she is authorized to carry that firearm.


    (c) Any person purchasing a ticket to board any commercial or charter aircraft shall by that purchase consent to a search of his or her person or personal belongings by the company selling the ticket to him or her. The person may refuse to submit to a search of his or her person or personal belongings by the aircraft company, but the person refusing may be denied the right to board the commercial or charter aircraft at the discretion of the carrier. Such a refusal creates no inference of unlawful conduct.


    (d) Any evidence of criminal activity found during a search made pursuant to this Section shall be admissible in legal proceedings for the sole purpose of supporting a charge of violation of this Section and is inadmissible as evidence in any legal proceeding for any other purpose, except in the prosecution of offenses related to weapons as set out in Article 24 of this Code.


    (e) No action may be brought against any commercial or charter airline company operating in this State for the refusal of that company to permit a person to board any aircraft if that person refused to be searched as set out in subsection (c) of this Section.


    (f) Violation of this Section is a Class 4 felony. 
(Source: P.A. 96-710, eff. 1-1-10.)



    (720 ILCS 5/29D-40) 
    Sec. 29D-40. Restitution. In addition to any other penalty that may be imposed, a court shall sentence any person convicted of any violation of this Article to pay all expenses incurred by the federal government, State government, or any unit of local government in responding to any violation and cleaning up following any violation. 
(Source: P.A. 92-854, eff. 12-5-02.)



    (720 ILCS 5/29D-45) 
    Sec. 29D-45. Limitations. A prosecution for any offense in this Article may be commenced at any time. 
(Source: P.A. 92-854, eff. 12-5-02.)



    (720 ILCS 5/29D-60) 
    Sec. 29D-60. Injunctive relief. Whenever it appears to the Attorney General or any State's Attorney that any person is engaged in, or is about to engage in, any act that constitutes or would constitute a violation of this Article, the Attorney General or any State's Attorney may initiate a civil action in the circuit court to enjoin the violation. 
(Source: P.A. 92-854, eff. 12-5-02.)


    (720 ILCS 5/29D-65) 
    Sec. 29D-65. Forfeiture of property acquired in connection with a violation of this Article; property freeze or seizure. 


    (a) If there is probable cause to believe that a person used, is using, is about to use, or is intending to use property in a way that would violate this Article, then that person's assets may be frozen or seized pursuant to Part 800 of Article 124B of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. 


    (b) Any person who commits any offense under this Article is subject to the property forfeiture provisions set forth in Article 124B of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Forfeiture under this subsection may be pursued in addition to or in lieu of proceeding under Section 124B-805 (property freeze or seizure; ex parte proceeding) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. 
(Source: P.A. 96-712, eff. 1-1-10.)



    (720 ILCS 5/29D-70) 
    Sec. 29D-70. Severability. If any clause, sentence, Section, provision, or part of this Article or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall be adjudged to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Article or its application to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby. 
(Source: P.A. 92-854, eff. 12-5-02.)