720 ILCS 5/25-1 – Mob Action

720 ILCS 5/25-1 – Mob Action

This law explains when a group of people working together can be charged for using or planning violence, or for refusing to stop after being told to by police.

This law says that people who join with others to use force, disturb the peace, or plan crimes may be guilty of mob action. The punishment depends on what they did and whether they hurt someone or refused to stop when told.

(a) A person commits mob action when they do any of the following:

1. Knowingly or recklessly use force or violence that disturbs the public peace, while acting together with two or more people and without legal authority.
2. Knowingly gather with two or more people intending to commit or help commit a felony or misdemeanor.
3. Knowingly gather with two or more people, without legal authority, to hurt someone or damage property of a person believed to have broken the law, or to take “justice” into their own hands by using violence.

(b) Sentence:

1. Joining a mob that uses force or violence to disturb peace is a Class 4 felony.
2. Joining a mob that gathers to plan or commit a crime or to act violently against someone believed to have broken the law is a Class C misdemeanor.
3. If a person in a mob hurts someone or damages property through violence, it is a Class 4 felony.
4. If a person in a mob refuses to leave when told by a police officer, it is a Class A misdemeanor.
5. Anyone convicted of mob action must also do 30 to 120 hours of community service if available and approved in their area. This rule doesn’t apply if the person goes to jail instead.

View the full statute here.

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