METROPOLIS, IL – In a significant move to protect individuals during one of the most vulnerable times of their lives, House Bill 3710—an amendment to the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act—is now law. Effective January 1, 2026, this legislation strengthens the integrity of the initial criminal investigation process by guaranteeing certain rights to victims who come forward to report a crime.
This law is aimed at ensuring that survivors and victims are treated with transparency and dignity from the moment they first make contact with the justice system.
Key Requirements of the New Victims’ Rights Law
The new law builds upon existing rights guaranteed by the Illinois Constitution and statutes by focusing specifically on the investigatory phase:
1. Right to Be Free From Deception
The most impactful change is the explicit requirement that victims have the right to be treated with fairness and respect during the investigatory process, including the right to be free from deception.
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What Deception Means: The law defines deception as the knowing communication of false facts about evidence. This prohibits law enforcement from intentionally misleading, fabricating, or misrepresenting facts about the evidence in the case during interviews or conversations with a crime victim.
2. Right to Fairness and Respect
The law reinforces the right of victims to be treated with fairness and respect for their dignity throughout the entire criminal justice process, ensuring this standard is applied rigorously at the very beginning—the investigatory stage.
3. Mandatory Written Rights Statement
To ensure victims are fully aware of their protections, law enforcement agencies are required to:
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Provide a Written Statement: Deliver a comprehensive written statement and explanation of the rights of crime victims and compensation programs within 48 hours of initial contact with the victim.
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Require Acknowledgment: Victims must sign an acknowledgment of receiving this information.
4. Prohibiting Discouragement
While not the central focus of HB 3710, a related effort strengthens protections by making it clear that law enforcement personnel are prohibited from discouraging or trying to stop a victim from filing a police report.
Why This Matters to Victims
For advocates, this law closes a critical gap. Existing victims’ rights often focused on court proceedings (like sentencing and parole hearings). By banning deception during the investigation itself, the law seeks to prevent re-traumatization and ensure that victims feel they can trust the justice system that is meant to protect them.
The goal is simple: to make sure that the system aligns its investigative practices with the foundational principles of dignity and respect guaranteed to every crime victim in Illinois.
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