720 ILCS 5/12-6.2 – Aggravated Intimidation
This law makes it a more serious crime to threaten or scare someone for specific reasons, like helping a gang or stopping someone from helping the police.
Aggravated intimidation is when someone commits intimidation in a way that is connected to a gang, is meant to stop someone from volunteering with the police, or targets certain officials or volunteers because of their duties or actions. The punishment depends on why and how the crime was done.
(a) A person commits aggravated intimidation when they threaten or scare someone (commit intimidation) and one of the following applies:
- The intimidation helps a gang’s activities or is done because the person belongs to a gang.
- The intimidation is meant to stop someone from becoming a community policing volunteer.
- All of the following conditions are met:
- The person knew the victim was one of these: a police officer, prison worker, firefighter, community policing volunteer, or a civilian giving information about a violent crime to police.
- The intimidation happened:
- While the victim was doing their official job duties.
- To stop the victim from doing their official duties.
- As revenge for the victim doing their official duties.
- Because of someone’s work as a community policing volunteer.
- Because someone gave information about a violent crime to the police.
(b) The punishment for aggravated intimidation depends on the situation:
- If it involves gangs (a)-1, it’s a Class 1 felony.
- If it involves stopping a volunteer or targeting officials (a)-2 or (a)-3, it’s a Class 2 felony. The sentence is between 3 and 14 years in prison.
(c) This section is left blank.
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