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State Senator Sally Turner’s (R-Beason) has advanced legislation
out of committee that would further protect the privacy of
victims of child sex crimes while testifying.
“Sexual crimes against minors are one of the most horrendous
crimes a person can commit and have been rightfully treated as
such by our legal system. The victims of these crimes go through
unimageable trauma throughout their lives,” said Sen. Turner.
“It is the duty of our legal system to bring their abusers to
justice, while also ensuring that we do not unnecessarily add to
their mental and emotional anguish. This legislation codifies
that every victim of child sex crimes can receive the privacy
they deserve while they testify about one of the most horrific
events of their life.”
Senate Bill 2942 clarifies that a judge can use his or her
discretion to clear disinterested parties, excluding media, from
the courtroom during the victim’s testimony even if the victim
is over 18 years of age as long as the crimes were committed
while the victim was still a minor. To safeguard the
constitutional rights of defendants, the judge must find that
particular parties do not have a direct interest in the case and
must put their basis for that finding into the record.
“The McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office could not be more
appreciative of Senator Turner’s efforts to ensure our most
vulnerable victims are afforded as much privacy and protection
as possible. I am grateful that the Senate understands the
importance and significance of clarifying that every local judge
in the state is empowered with the discretion to exclude
non-interested parties from the courtroom when a victim is
testifying about their childhood trauma,” said McLean County
State’s Attorney Don Knapp. “This legislation will undoubtedly
provide countless victims with at least a modicum of comfort in
knowing that judges can prevent an untold number of strangers
from gawking at them while they are on the witness stand. For
that, I cannot thank Senator Turner and her colleagues enough.”
Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz and McLean County
State’s Attorney Don Knapp both testified in support of Senate
Bill 2942 during Tuesday’s Senate Criminal Law Committee. The
legislation passed out of the committee unanimously and now goes
to the Senate floor for further consideration.
[Marcus J. Durrett
Illinois Senate Republican Staff
Communications and Public Affairs]
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