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In Article 8 of the Illinois criminal code, legislators addressed solicitation, conspiracy and attempt. Section 8-1 (720 ILCS 5/8-1), listed below, specifically addresses solicitation, solicitation of murder, and solicitation of murder for hire.
Just as charges can be pressed against someone who commits a crime, charges can also be pressed against someone who solicits a crime. When someone commands, encourages, or requests another to commit an offense, this is called solicitation. A person convicted of solicitation may be fined or imprisoned up to the maximum punishment provided for the offense solicited.
This section also discusses solicitation of murder for hire, which occurs when a person asks someone else to commit murder according to an agreement or request for money. This crime is a Class X felony and is punishable by a prison term of 20-40 years.
There are a number of legal defense strategies that can be effective in addressing these solicitation charges.
A good Illinois criminal defense attorney may be able to help you in your efforts to get a 720 ILCS 5/8-1 solicitation charge dismissed. Call our Chicago criminal defense attorneys today at (312) 466-9466 to discuss your case.
The text below comes from Article 8 of the Illinois Criminal Code of 1961. This law may have changed -- please read the important legal disclaimer at the bottom of this page.
(720 ILCS 5/Tit. III heading) TITLE III. SPECIFIC OFFENSES
(720 ILCS 5/Tit. III Pt. A heading) PART A. INCHOATE OFFENSES
Illinois Criminal Code of 1961 - Article 8
Sec. 8-1. Solicitation and solicitation of murder.
(720 ILCS 5/8-1)
(a) Solicitation. A person commits the offense of solicitation when, with intent that an offense be committed, other than first degree murder, he or she commands, encourages, or requests another to commit that offense.
(b) Solicitation of murder. A person commits the offense of solicitation of murder when he or she commits solicitation with the intent that the offense of first degree murder be committed. (c) Sentence. A person convicted of solicitation may be fined or imprisoned or both not to exceed the maximum provided for the offense solicited, except that the penalty shall not exceed the corresponding maximum limit provided by subparagraph (c) of Section 8-4 of this Code. Solicitation of murder is a Class X felony, and a person convicted of solicitation of murder shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years and not more than 30 years, except that a person convicted of solicitation of murder when the person solicited was a person under the age of 17 years shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 20 years and not more than 60 years. (Source: P.A. 96-710, eff. 1-1-10.)
Sec. 8-1.1. (Repealed).
(720 ILCS 5/8-1.1)
(Source: P.A. 89-689, eff. 12-31-96. Repealed by P.A. 96-710, eff. 1-1-10.)
Sec. 8-1.2. Solicitation of murder for hire.
(720 ILCS 5/8-1.2)
(a) A person commits the offense of solicitation of murder for hire when, with the intent that the offense of first degree murder be committed, he or she procures another to commit that offense pursuant to any contract, agreement, understanding, command, or request for money or anything of value.
(b) Sentence. Solicitation of murder for hire is a Class X felony, and a person convicted of solicitation of murder for hire shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 20 years and not more than 40 years, except that a person convicted of solicitation of murder for hire when the person solicited was a person under the age of 17 years shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 25 years and not more than 60 years. (Source: P.A. 96-710, eff. 1-1-10.)
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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