720 ILCS 5/32-4 – Communicating With Jurors And Witnesses
This law makes it illegal to try to unfairly influence or threaten jurors or witnesses in a court case.
This Illinois law says people can’t try to affect a juror’s decision or stop a witness from telling the truth. Anyone who communicates improperly or uses threats, lies, or bribes against jurors or witnesses can face serious criminal charges.
(a) If someone tries to talk to a juror in a way not allowed by law to make them decide a case a certain way, that person commits a Class 4 felony.
(b) If someone tries to scare, lie to, or bribe a party or witness so they won’t testify truthfully in court, before a Grand Jury, or in front of any government agency, they commit a Class 3 felony. This includes actions like:
- Keeping or holding the person so they can’t speak or testify.
- Sharing false facts or threats of harm or property damage.
- Offering, giving, or promising to hold back money or something valuable to control what they say.
(c) A person who breaks the Juror Protection Act commits a Class 4 felony.
Contact us online or call (314) 900-HELP to talk with a Southern Illinois criminal defense lawyer.
