720 ILCS 5/31-4 – Obstructing Justice

720 ILCS 5/31-4 – Obstructing Justice

This law says it’s a crime to hide the truth or give false information to stop someone from being caught or punished.

This statute makes it illegal to destroy evidence, lie, or help someone hide from police or court. It also punishes giving false reports about a missing or dead child, or doing these acts to help a gang.

(a) A person breaks this law when, on purpose, they try to stop someone from being caught or tried by doing one of these things:

1. Destroy, change, hide, or disguise real evidence, plant fake evidence, or give false information.
2. Convince a witness who knows important information to leave Illinois or hide from authorities.
3. Leave Illinois or hide themselves when they know important information about a case.
4. If they are a parent, guardian, or caretaker of a child younger than 13, give false information to police or other officials during an investigation about that child’s disappearance or death.

(b) Sentence:

1. Usually, obstructing justice is a Class 4 felony.
2. If done to help a gang or related gang activity, it becomes a Class 3 felony.

View the full statute here.

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