720 ILCS 5/33-3 – Official Misconduct
This law says that public officials and employees break the law when they don’t do their required jobs, do things they’re not allowed to do, or use their position to help themselves or others.
Official misconduct happens when government workers misuse their power or don’t follow the rules of their job. This includes not doing required work, doing forbidden things, using their position for personal gain, or taking money they shouldn’t accept.
(a): A public officer, employee, or special government agent commits misconduct when they do any of these things while working in their official job:
- On purpose or carelessly fails to do a required part of their job that the law says they must do; or
- Does something they know the law says they cannot do; or
- Does more than their job allows them to do because they want to help themselves or someone else; or
- Asks for or accepts money or rewards for doing something when they know the law doesn’t allow them to take that payment.
(b): A law enforcement employee commits misconduct when they use or share information they learned at work to try to stop or slow down the investigation, arrest, or court case against any crime or person. This rule doesn’t apply if they’re sharing information with a secret helper who is working with law enforcement on an active investigation.
(c) Sentence: A public officer, employee, or special government agent who is found guilty of breaking this law loses their job or position. They also commit a Class 3 felony.
(d): For this law, “special government agent” means the same thing it means in Section 4A-101(l) of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act.
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