(a) As used in this Section:
         (1) “Governmental authority” means any local
    
governmental unit in this State, any municipal corporation in this State, or any governmental unit of the State of Illinois. This includes any office, officer, department, division, bureau, board, commission, or agency of the State.
        (2) “Officer” means any probationary law enforcement
    
officer, probationary part-time law enforcement officer, permanent law enforcement officer, part-time law enforcement officer, law enforcement officer, recruit, probationary county corrections officer, permanent county corrections officer, county corrections officer, probationary court security officer, permanent court security officer, or court security officer as defined in Section 2 of the Police Training Act.
    (b) No governmental authority, or agent of a governmental authority, or person acting on behalf of a governmental authority, shall engage in a pattern or practice of conduct by officers that deprives any person of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States or by the Constitution or laws of Illinois.
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Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 15 ILCS 205/10

  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • individual: shall include every infant member of the species homo sapiens who is born alive at any stage of development. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.36
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • oath: shall be deemed to include an affirmation, and the word "sworn" shall be construed to include the word "affirmed. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.12
  • State: when applied to different parts of the United States, may be construed to include the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" may be construed to include the said district and territories. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.14
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
  • United States: may be construed to include the said district and territories. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.14
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.

     (c) Whenever the Illinois Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that a violation of subsection (b) has occurred, the Illinois Attorney General may commence a civil action in the name of the People of the State to obtain appropriate equitable and declaratory relief to eliminate the pattern or practice. Venue for this civil action shall be Sangamon County or Cook County. Such actions shall be commenced no later than 5 years after the occurrence or the termination of an alleged violation, whichever occurs last.
     (d) Prior to initiating a civil action, the Attorney General may conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe that a violation of subsection (b) has occurred. In conducting this investigation, the Attorney General may:
         (1) require the individual or entity to file a
    
statement or report in writing under oath or otherwise, as to all information the Attorney General may consider necessary;
        (2) examine under oath any person alleged to have
    
participated in or with knowledge of the alleged pattern and practice violation; or
        (3) issue subpoenas or conduct hearings in aid of any
    
investigation.
    (e) Service by the Attorney General of any notice requiring a person to file a statement or report, or of a subpoena upon any person, shall be made:
         (1) personally by delivery of a duly executed copy
    
thereof to the person to be served or, if a person is not a natural person, in the manner provided in the Code of Civil Procedure when a complaint is filed; or
        (2) by mailing by certified mail a duly executed copy
    
thereof to the person to be served at his or her last known abode or principal place of business within this State or, if a person is not a natural person, in the manner provided in the Code of Civil Procedure when a complaint is filed.
        (3) The Attorney General may compel compliance with
    
investigative demands under this Section through an order by any court of competent jurisdiction.
    (f)(1) In any civil action brought pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, the Attorney General may obtain as a remedy equitable and declaratory relief (including any permanent or preliminary injunction, temporary restraining order, or other order, including an order enjoining the defendant from engaging in such violation or ordering any action as may be appropriate). In addition, the Attorney General may request and the Court may impose a civil penalty to vindicate the public interest in an amount not exceeding $25,000 per violation, or if the defendant has been adjudged to have committed one other civil rights violation under this Section within 5 years of the occurrence of the violation that is the basis of the complaint, in an amount not exceeding $50,000.
     (2) A civil penalty imposed under this subsection shall be deposited into the Attorney General Court Ordered and Voluntary Compliance Payment Projects Fund, which is a special fund in the State Treasury. Moneys in the Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, for the performance of any function pertaining to the exercise of the duties of the Attorney General including but not limited to enforcement of any law of this State and conducting public education programs; however, any moneys in the Fund that are required by the court or by an agreement to be used for a particular purpose shall be used for that purpose.
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