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Convincing someone else to commit a crime is a reprehensible act, but it is made even more atrocious when the potential accomplice is a child. Article 33D of the Illinois Criminal Code seeks to address this problem.
If anyone over the age of 21 attempts to solicit or compel any child under the age of 17 to commit either a felony or a misdemeanor, he or she could face the criminal charge of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
If found guilty, a defendant will receive a felony one level above that of the crime committed or solicited.
Need an Illinois criminal defense attorney? If you've been arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a child in Illinois, call our Chicago criminal defense attorneys today at (312) 466-9466 to discuss your case.
The text below comes from Article 33D of the Illinois Criminal Code of 1961. This law may have changed -- please read the important legal disclaimer at the bottom of this page.
Illinois Criminal Code of 1961 - Article 33D
(720 ILCS 5/33D-1) (from Ch. 38, par. 33D-1)
Sec. 33D-1. (a) Contributing to the criminal delinquency of a juvenile. Any person of the age of 21 years and upwards, who with the intent to promote or facilitate the commission of an offense that is either a felony or misdemeanor, solicits, compels or directs any person under the age of 17 years in the commission of the offense commits the offense of contributing to the criminal delinquency of a juvenile.
(b) Sentence. Contributing to the criminal delinquency of a juvenile is a felony one grade higher than the offense committed, if the offense committed is a felony, except when the offense committed is first degree murder or a Class X felony. When the offense committed is first degree murder or a Class X felony, the penalty for contributing to the criminal delinquency of a juvenile is the same as the penalty for first degree murder or a Class X felony, respectively. Contributing to the criminal delinquency of a juvenile is a misdemeanor one grade higher than the offense committed, if the offense committed is a misdemeanor, except when the offense committed is a Class A misdemeanor. If the offense committed is a Class A misdemeanor, the penalty for contributing to the criminal delinquency of a juvenile is a Class 4 felony. (Source: P.A. 91-337, eff. 1-1-00.)
Return to Illinois Criminal Code of 1961 Table of Contents
DISCLAIMER: These excerpts from the law are provided for reference purposes only. Visitors to our Chicago criminal defense lawyer website should be aware that Illinois criminal laws have been amended many times and that Illinois crime laws posted on this site may not be current. In addition, Illinois criminal case law defines precedents for legal determinations that are not defined in the original laws.
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