720 ILCS 5/11-25 – Grooming
This law makes it illegal for an adult to try to lure a child into sexual activity or acts using messages, the internet, or other methods.
This Illinois law says it’s a crime for someone much older than a child, or someone in a position of trust, to try to get the child involved in sexual acts or to share sexual pictures. Doing this is called “grooming,” and it’s a Class 4 felony.
(a) A person commits grooming when they are at least 5 years older than a child or have authority over the child, and they knowingly do one of the following:
- Use the internet, computer, phone, messages, or other ways of communication to try to lure, attract, or convince a child–or someone they believe to be a child or that child’s guardian–to do sexual acts, send sexual pictures, or take part in other illegal sexual behavior.
- Repeatedly try to lure or attract a child to take part in sexual acts meant to cause sexual excitement or pleasure for the child, the accused, or someone else.
(a-5) The words in this law mean:
- “Child” means anyone under 17 years old.
- “Pattern” means doing something two or more times.
- “Sex offense” means a crime involving sexual acts.
- “Sexual conduct” means sexual touching or actions.
(a-6) Teaching or actions that serve a real educational purpose, as allowed by school laws, are not considered grooming.
(b) Sentence: Grooming is a Class 4 felony, which means it is a serious crime that can lead to jail time and other penalties.
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