History of Illinois Sex Offense Laws

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Illinois sex offense laws are constantly being updated, usually expanding the range of sex crimes and making the punishments for sex crimes harsher. Here are a few notable highlights regarding the history of Illinois sex offense laws.

Effective Aug, 15, 1986

• Began enacting sex offender legislation, including the Habitual Child Sex Offender Registration Act.
• Required sex offender registration for second or subsequent sex offense (attempts included).
• Applicable only for victims under 18 years of age.

Effective Jan. 1, 1993

• Enacted the Child Sex Offender Registration Act.
• Extended sex offender registration to include first time convictions for sex offenses.
• Applicable only for victims under 18 years of age.

Effective Jan. 1, 1996

• Enacted the Illinois Sex Offender Registration Act.
• Extended sex offense registration to include any offender convicted of a felony sex crime regardless of the victim's age.

Effective Jun. 1, 1996

• All prior laws renamed to be the Sex Offender Registration Act and the Child Sex Offender and Child Murderer Community Notification Law.
• Limited personal information about registered child sex offenders was authorized for release to the public.
• Violations of the law became a Class 4 felony.

Effective Jul. 24, 1997

• Sex offender registration expanded to include certain misdemeanor offenses, including Indecent Solicitation of a Child, Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Criminal Sexual Abuse and Sexual Relations within families.

Effective Jul. 1, 1999

• "Sexual predator" category established.
• Additional sex offender personal information was authorized for release to the public, including via the Illinois State Police Sex Offender website, which launched in November 1999.

Effective Aug. 22, 2003

• Sex offender registration requirements expanded to include Public Indecency for a Third or Subsequent Conviction, Custodial Sexual Misconduct and Permitting Sexual Abuse.

Effective Jun. 1, 2008

• Criminal Code of 1961 amended to indicate that it is illegal for a child sex offender to knowingly operate, manage, be employed by, or be associated with any county fair when persons under the age of 18 are present.
• Expanded the definition of Indecent Solicitation of a Child, a Class 4 felony sex crime.