720 ILCS 5/12-3.1 – Battery of an Unborn Child; Aggravated Battery of an Unborn Child
This law makes it a crime to harm an unborn baby on purpose without a legal reason.
This Illinois law says that causing harm to an unborn baby on purpose is a crime. If the harm is serious, it becomes a more serious crime called aggravated battery. of an unborn child.
(a) A person breaks this law if they knowingly and without a legal reason cause injury to an unborn baby in any way.
(a-5) The crime becomes more serious, called aggravated battery of an unborn baby, if the person causes major injury, lasting damage, or disfigurement to the unborn baby.
(b) For this law:
- “Unborn child” means a human being from the time an embryo attaches to the mother until birth.
- “Person” does not include the pregnant woman whose unborn baby is hurt.
(c) Punishment: Battery of an unborn baby is a Class A misdemeanor. Aggravated battery of an unborn baby is a Class 2 felony.
(d) This law does not apply if the injury happens during a legal abortion that the pregnant woman agrees to, or during normal medical tests or treatments done by doctors.
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