720 ILCS 5/12-20.6 – Abuse of a Corpse

720 ILCS 5/12-20.6 – Abuse of a Corpse

This law makes it a crime to mistreat a dead body in certain illegal ways.

This Illinois law says it’s a crime to have sexual contact with a dead body or to move one without permission, except for people like doctors, funeral workers, or others who are allowed by law to handle them for official reasons.

(a) In this section: “Corpse” means a dead human body. “Sexual conduct” is defined the same way as in 720 ILCS 5/11-0.1.

(b) A person breaks this law if they do either of the following on purpose:

1. Have sexual contact with a dead body or that involves a dead body.
2. Move or take away a dead body when not legally allowed to do so.

(c) Sentence:

1. If someone has sexual contact with a dead body, it’s a Class 2 felony (a serious crime).
2. If someone wrongly moves or takes a dead body, it’s a Class 4 felony (a less severe, but still serious, crime).

(d) The rule about moving a dead body does not apply to the following people:

1. Medical examiners or coroners doing their jobs.
2. Licensed funeral directors or embalmers doing lawful funeral work.
3. Cemetery staff doing their jobs with permission or a court order.
4. Doctors or emergency workers trying in good faith to save a life.
5. Licensed doctors or medical students working within normal medical standards.
6. People authorized by an organ donation organization to remove a body for organ or tissue donations.

View the full statute here.

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