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Illinois Compiled Statutes

720 ILCS 5/12-9 (2026)

Threatening public officials; human service providers

✓ current as of May 2026
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(720 ILCS 5/12-9) (from Ch. 38, par. 12-9)
    Sec. 12-9. Threatening public officials; human service providers.
    (a) A person commits threatening a public official or human service provider when:
        (1) that person knowingly delivers or conveys,
    
directly or indirectly, to a public official or human service provider by any means a communication:
            (i) containing a threat that would place the
        
public official or human service provider or a member of his or her immediate family in reasonable apprehension of immediate or future bodily harm, sexual assault, confinement, or restraint; or
            (ii) containing a threat that would place the
        
public official or human service provider or a member of his or her immediate family in reasonable apprehension that damage will occur to property in the custody, care, or control of the public official or his or her immediate family; and
        (2) the threat was conveyed because of the
    
performance or nonperformance of some public duty or duty as a human service provider, because of hostility of the person making the threat toward the status or position of the public official or the human service provider, or because of any other factor related to the official's public existence.
    (a-5) For purposes of a threat to a sworn law enforcement officer, the threat must contain specific facts indicative of a unique threat to the person, family or property of the officer and not a generalized threat of harm.
    (a-6) For purposes of a threat to a social worker, caseworker, investigator, or human service provider, the threat must contain specific facts indicative of a unique threat to the person, family or property of the individual and not a generalized threat of harm.
    (b) For purposes of this Section:
        (1) "Public official" means a person who is elected
    
to office in accordance with a statute or who is appointed to an office which is established, and the qualifications and duties of which are prescribed, by statute, to discharge a public duty for the State or any of its political subdivisions or in the case of an elective office any person who has filed the required documents for nomination or election to such office. "Public official" includes a duly appointed assistant State's Attorney, assistant Attorney General, or Appellate Prosecutor; a sworn law enforcement or peace officer; a social worker, caseworker, attorney, or investigator employed by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Children and Family Services, or the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission; or an assistant public guardian, attorney, social worker, case manager, or investigator employed by a duly appointed public guardian.
        (1.5) "Human service provider" means a social
    
worker, case worker, or investigator employed by an agency or organization providing social work, case work, or investigative services under a contract with or a grant from the Department of Human Services, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, or the Department on Aging.
        (2) "Immediate family" means a public official's
    
spouse or child or children.
    (c) Threatening a public official or human service provider is a Class 3 felony for a first offense and a Class 2 felony for a second or subsequent offense.
(Source: P.A. 100-1, eff. 1-1-18.)


 
    (720 ILCS 5/Art. 12, Subdiv. 20 heading)
SUBDIVISION 20. MUTILATION
(Source: P.A. 96-1551, eff. 7-1-11.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 51 cases (17 in the last 5 years), 2000–2026 · leading case: People v. Bona, 2018 IL App (2d) 160581 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018).
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People v. Bona, 2018 IL App (2d) 160581 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). · cites it 5× “Bona, was convicted of two counts of threatening a public official, in violation of section 12-9 of the Criminal Code of 2012 (Code) ( 720 ILCS 5/12-9(a) (West 2012) ). Defendant appeals his conviction, challenging (1) whether the statute is constitutional, (2) the sufficiency…”
People v. Hibbler, 2019 IL App (4th) 160897 (Ill. App. Ct. 2019). · cites it 2× “*541 ¶ 1 In September 2015, defendant, Terrell Lasean Hibbler, pleaded guilty to threatening a public official ( 720 ILCS 5/12-9(a) (West 2014)) in exchange for a sentence of 30 months' probation.”
People v. Hale, 2012 IL App (4th) 100949 (Ill. App. Ct. 2012). · cites it 5× “BACKGROUND ¶4 In July 2009, the State charged defendant by information with four counts of aggravated battery (counts I, II, III, and V) (720 ILCS 5/12-4(b)(18) (West 2008)) and one count of threatening a public official (count IV) (720 ILCS 5/12-9 (West 2008)). Count IV alleged…”
People v. Smith, 2019 IL App (4th) 160641 (Ill. App. Ct. 2019). · cites it 4× “” 720 ILCS 5/12-9(a) (West 2014). ¶ 48 Section 12-9(a) requires a defendant to place the victim or immediate family in reasonable apprehension of damage to property or immediate or future bodily harm.”
People v. Dye, 2015 IL App (4th) 130799 (Ill. App. Ct. 2015). · cites it 3× “Dye, guilty of threatening a public official (720 ILCS 5/12-9 (West 2012)). The court sentenced him to imprisonment for three years.”
People v. VanHoose, 2020 IL App (5th) 170247 (Ill. App. Ct. 2020). · cites it 2× “¶ 14 On September 23, 2016, the defendant was charged by indictment with the offense of threatening a public official, in violation of section 12-9(a)(1)(i) of the Criminal Code of 2012 (720 ILCS 5/12-9(a)(1)(i) (West 2016)), a Class 3 felony.”
People v. Hibbler, 2019 IL App (4th) 160897 (Ill. App. Ct. 2019). · cites it 2× “OPINION ¶1 In September 2015, defendant, Terrell Lasean Hibbler, pleaded guilty to threatening a public official (720 ILCS 5/12-9(a) (West 2014)) in exchange for a sentence of 30 months’ probation.”
People v. Gregory, 2016 IL App (2d) 140294 (Ill. App. Ct. 2016). “OPINION ¶1 Defendant, Scott Gregory, appeals his convictions of one count of threatening a public official (720 ILCS 5/12-9(a)(1)(i) (West 2010)) and three counts of cyberstalking (720 ILCS 5/12-7.”
People v. Wood, 2017 IL App (1st) 143135 (Ill. App. Ct. 2017). · cites it 3× “" ¶ 23 In addition to there not being a threat that would permit the criminalization of the speech, the State did not introduce any evidence that defendant knew that the purportedly threatening statements he made about the judge would be conveyed to judge.”
People v. Goodwin, 2018 IL App (1st) 152045 (Ill. App. Ct. 2019). · cites it 3× “¶ 34 Section 12-9 of the Criminal Code of 2012 (Code) (720 ILCS 5/12-9 (West 2014)) provides, in relevant part: “(a) A person commits threatening a public official or human service provider when: (1) that person knowingly delivers or conveys, directly or indirectly, to a public…”
Avila v. Pappas, 591 F.3d 552 (7th Cir. 2010). “Compare 720 ILCS 5/12-9 with 720 ILCS 5/12-2(a)(10).”
People v. Garcia, 2015 IL App (2d) 131234 (Ill. App. Ct. 2015). · cites it 3× “OPINION ¶1 Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Kane County, defendant, Christopher Garcia, was found guilty of threatening a public official (720 ILCS 5/12-9 (West 2012)) and was sentenced to a 54-month prison term.”
Show all 51 citing cases →
— 720 ILCS 5/12-9(1)(a)(1)(i) — 2 cases
People v. Khan, 2018 IL App (2d) 160724 (Ill. App. Ct. 2019).
People v. Khan, 2018 IL App (2d) 160724 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018).
— 720 ILCS 5/12-9(a) — 11 cases
People v. Bona, 2018 IL App (2d) 160581 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). “Bona, was convicted of two counts of threatening a public official, in violation of section 12-9 of the Criminal Code of 2012 (Code) ( 720 ILCS 5/12-9(a) (West 2012) ). Defendant appeals his conviction, challenging (1) whether the statute is constitutional, (2) the sufficiency…”
People v. Smith, 2019 IL App (4th) 160641 (Ill. App. Ct. 2019). “” 720 ILCS 5/12-9(a) (West 2014). ¶ 48 Section 12-9(a) requires a defendant to place the victim or immediate family in reasonable apprehension of damage to property or immediate or future bodily harm.”
People v. Hibbler, 2019 IL App (4th) 160897 (Ill. App. Ct. 2019). “*541 ¶ 1 In September 2015, defendant, Terrell Lasean Hibbler, pleaded guilty to threatening a public official ( 720 ILCS 5/12-9(a) (West 2014)) in exchange for a sentence of 30 months' probation.”
People v. Hibbler, 2019 IL App (4th) 160897 (Ill. App. Ct. 2019). “OPINION ¶1 In September 2015, defendant, Terrell Lasean Hibbler, pleaded guilty to threatening a public official (720 ILCS 5/12-9(a) (West 2014)) in exchange for a sentence of 30 months’ probation.”
People v. Greenfield, 2021 IL App (1st) 190952-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2021).
— 720 ILCS 5/12-9(a)(1) — 10 cases
People v. Smith, 2019 IL App (4th) 160641 (Ill. App. Ct. 2019). “” 720 ILCS 5/12-9(a) (West 2014). ¶ 48 Section 12-9(a) requires a defendant to place the victim or immediate family in reasonable apprehension of damage to property or immediate or future bodily harm.”
People v. Dye, 2015 IL App (4th) 130799 (Ill. App. Ct. 2015). “Dye, guilty of threatening a public official (720 ILCS 5/12-9 (West 2012)). The court sentenced him to imprisonment for three years.”
People v. Wood, 2017 IL App (1st) 143135 (Ill. App. Ct. 2017). “" ¶ 23 In addition to there not being a threat that would permit the criminalization of the speech, the State did not introduce any evidence that defendant knew that the purportedly threatening statements he made about the judge would be conveyed to judge.”
People v. Goodwin, 2018 IL App (1st) 152045 (Ill. App. Ct. 2019). “¶ 34 Section 12-9 of the Criminal Code of 2012 (Code) (720 ILCS 5/12-9 (West 2014)) provides, in relevant part: “(a) A person commits threatening a public official or human service provider when: (1) that person knowingly delivers or conveys, directly or indirectly, to a public…”
People v. Garcia, 2015 IL App (2d) 131234 (Ill. App. Ct. 2015). “OPINION ¶1 Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Kane County, defendant, Christopher Garcia, was found guilty of threatening a public official (720 ILCS 5/12-9 (West 2012)) and was sentenced to a 54-month prison term.”
— 720 ILCS 5/12-9(a)(1)(i) — 18 cases
People v. VanHoose, 2020 IL App (5th) 170247 (Ill. App. Ct. 2020). “¶ 14 On September 23, 2016, the defendant was charged by indictment with the offense of threatening a public official, in violation of section 12-9(a)(1)(i) of the Criminal Code of 2012 (720 ILCS 5/12-9(a)(1)(i) (West 2016)), a Class 3 felony.”
People v. Gregory, 2016 IL App (2d) 140294 (Ill. App. Ct. 2016). “OPINION ¶1 Defendant, Scott Gregory, appeals his convictions of one count of threatening a public official (720 ILCS 5/12-9(a)(1)(i) (West 2010)) and three counts of cyberstalking (720 ILCS 5/12-7.”
People v. Bona, 2018 IL App (2d) 160581 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). “Bona, was convicted of two counts of threatening a public official, in violation of section 12-9 of the Criminal Code of 2012 (Code) ( 720 ILCS 5/12-9(a) (West 2012) ). Defendant appeals his conviction, challenging (1) whether the statute is constitutional, (2) the sufficiency…”
People v. Wood, 2017 IL App (1st) 143135 (Ill. App. Ct. 2017). “" ¶ 23 In addition to there not being a threat that would permit the criminalization of the speech, the State did not introduce any evidence that defendant knew that the purportedly threatening statements he made about the judge would be conveyed to judge.”
People v. Hale, 2012 IL App (4th) 100949 (Ill. App. Ct. 2012). “BACKGROUND ¶4 In July 2009, the State charged defendant by information with four counts of aggravated battery (counts I, II, III, and V) (720 ILCS 5/12-4(b)(18) (West 2008)) and one count of threatening a public official (count IV) (720 ILCS 5/12-9 (West 2008)). Count IV alleged…”
— 720 ILCS 5/12-9(a)(1)(ii) — 1 case
People v. Williams, 2024 IL App (2d) 230268-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2024).
— 720 ILCS 5/12-9(b)(1) — 9 cases
Vicars-Duncan v. Tactikos, 2014 IL App (4th) 131064 (Ill. App. Ct. 2014).
People v. Dorris, 746 N.E.2d 303 (Ill. App. Ct. 2001).
Vicars-Duncan v. Tactikos, 2014 IL App (4th) 131064 (Ill. App. Ct. 2014).
People v. Goodwin, 2017 IL App (5th) 140432 (Ill. App. Ct. 2017).
People v. Goodwin, 2017 IL App (5th) 140432 (Ill. App. Ct. 2017).
— 720 ILCS 5/12-9(c) — 4 cases
People v. Hibbler, 2019 IL App (4th) 160897 (Ill. App. Ct. 2019). “*541 ¶ 1 In September 2015, defendant, Terrell Lasean Hibbler, pleaded guilty to threatening a public official ( 720 ILCS 5/12-9(a) (West 2014)) in exchange for a sentence of 30 months' probation.”
People v. Hibbler, 2019 IL App (4th) 160897 (Ill. App. Ct. 2019). “OPINION ¶1 In September 2015, defendant, Terrell Lasean Hibbler, pleaded guilty to threatening a public official (720 ILCS 5/12-9(a) (West 2014)) in exchange for a sentence of 30 months’ probation.”
People v. Hibbler, 2019 IL App (4th) 160897 (Ill. App. Ct. 2019).
People v. Lawson, 2023 IL App (5th) 220809-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2023).
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