METROPOLIS, IL – In this installment of our series, we focus on major legislative changes designed to improve how law enforcement responds to crime and supports victims. Effective January 1, 2026, new laws streamline reporting procedures and expand rights for those impacted by violence.
Zero Tolerance for Delayed Missing Person Reports
A critical public safety law, Ending Waiting Periods for Missing Person Reports (SB 0024), will be in effect, ensuring that the critical early hours in a missing person case are not lost to waiting periods.
Immediate Reporting Mandated
The law eliminates the ability of law enforcement to impose a waiting period before accepting a missing person report. This means:
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No Delay: Police must take the report immediately upon it being filed.
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Irrelevant Factors: Law enforcement cannot refuse to take a report based on factors that previously caused delays, such as the person being an adult, their suspected mental health status, or the possibility that they may have left voluntarily.
Why Speed Matters
Law enforcement experts stress that the faster a missing person report is filed and disseminated, the higher the chance of a safe outcome. This new law removes bureaucratic hurdles, ensuring investigations can begin without delay across Southern Illinois.
Expanded Rights for Crime Victims
Two new pieces of legislation significantly clarify and strengthen protections for crime victims, extending rights both in their interactions with police and in their workplaces.
1. Right to Report and Record (HB 3710 / HB 1278)
The legislature has clarified the rights of crime victims and placed new restrictions on employers and law enforcement:
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No Discouragement: Law enforcement officers are prohibited from discouraging a victim from filing a police report, regardless of the nature of the crime.
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Workplace Device Use: Employers are prohibited from discriminating or retaliating against an employee who uses an employer-issued electronic device to record or communicate about domestic violence, sexual violence, or other crimes of violence committed against themselves or a family member. This ensures victims can seek help without fear of losing their job over policy breaches regarding device use.
2. Clarified Victims’ Rights (HB 3710)
This law clarifies and expands the protections already provided under the Illinois Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights, ensuring that victims are fully informed of their rights to:
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Be present at all court proceedings.
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Be heard at sentencing and other critical hearings.
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Be treated with dignity and respect throughout the judicial process.
These laws collectively aim to create a more supportive and responsive environment for victims as they navigate the aftermath of a crime.
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