ILCS » Chapter 720 · Act 5
Illinois Compiled Statutes

720 ILCS 5/2-8 (2026)

"Forcible felony"

✓ current as of May 2026
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(720 ILCS 5/2-8) (from Ch. 38, par. 2-8)
    Sec. 2-8. "Forcible felony". "Forcible felony" means treason, first degree murder, second degree murder, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, robbery, burglary, residential burglary, aggravated arson, arson, aggravated kidnaping, kidnaping, aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement and any other felony which involves the use or threat of physical force or violence against any individual.
(Source: P.A. 88-277; 89-428, eff. 12-13-95; 89-462, eff. 5-29-96.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 155 cases (51 in the last 5 years), 1997–2026 · leading case: People v. Davis
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People v. Davis, 821 N.E.2d 1154 (Ill. 2004). · cites it 5× “" 720 ILCS 5/2-8 (West 2002). The Code section at issue here defines "mob action" as consisting of "[t]he use of force or violence disturbing the public peace by 2 or more persons acting together and without authority of law.”
People v. Harmon, 2015 IL App (1st) 122345 (Ill. App. Ct. 2015). · cites it 11× “July 1, 2011)), does not suffice to satisfy section 2-8 to constitute a forcible felony (720 ILCS 5/2-8 (West 2008)) of the type that would justify using deadly force under section 7-1(a) for justified use of deadly force (720 ILCS 5/7-1(a) (West 2008)).”
People v. McGhee, 2020 IL App (3d) 180349 (Ill. App. Ct. 2020). · cites it 3× “¶ 46 Section 2-8 of the Code (720 ILCS 5/2-8 (West 2016)) provides: “ ‘Forcible felony’ means treason, first degree murder, second degree murder, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, robbery, burglary,…”
People v. Smith, 2016 IL App (1st) 140496 (Ill. App. Ct. 2016). · cites it 2× “Section 2-8 of the Code (720 ILCS 5/2-8 (West 2012)) defines "forcible felony," as treason, first degree murder, second degree murder, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, robbery, burglary, residential…”
People v. Carter, 2021 IL 125954 (Ill. 2021). · cites it 2× “¶¶ 35-39 (quoting 720 ILCS 5/2-8 (West 2016)); id. ¶¶ 36-39.”
People v. McCormick, 774 N.E.2d 392 (Ill. App. Ct. 2002). · cites it 5× “However, under section 2(b)(5) of the Communications Act (720 ILCS 13572(b)(5) (West 2000)), harassment by telephone becomes a Class 4 felony if, during the past 10 years, the offender was convicted of a "forcible felony" within the meaning of section 2-8 of the Criminal Code of…”
People v. Morgan, 758 N.E.2d 813 (Ill. 2001). “The Code defines "forcible felony" as, inter alia, "aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement and any other felony which involves the use or threat of physical force or violence against any individual.”
Schlosser v. State, 2012 IL App (3d) 110115 (Ill. App. Ct. 2012). · cites it 4× “” 720 ILCS 5/2-8 (West 2010). ¶ 24 Indecent solicitation of a child is not one of the enumerated offenses.”
People v. Dawson, 2022 IL App (1st) 190422 (Ill. App. Ct. 2022). · cites it 2× “720 ILCS 5/2-8 (West 2016). The State concedes in its brief, as it must, that the word “convicted,” as used in the armed habitual statute, requires a finding of guilt and a sentence imposed in an adult criminal court and does not include a juvenile adjudication.”
People v. Minssen, 2024 IL App (4th) 231198 (Ill. App. Ct. 2024). · cites it 2× “5) of the Code differs from the definition of that same term in section 2-8 of the Criminal Code of 2012 (720 ILCS 5/2-8 (West 2022)). Aggravated assault is not a specifically delineated offense under either statute.”
People v. Bush, 2023 IL 128747 (Ill. 2023). “” 720 ILCS 5/2-8 (West 2020). When a felony murder statute encompasses unenumerated felonies, “including assault,” the merger doctrine is necessary to preserve the legislature’s intent to distinguish and grade homicide offenses.”
People v. Sanderson, 2016 IL App (1st) 141381 (Ill. App. Ct. 2016). · cites it 2× “Sanderson contends that attempted residential burglary is not a “forcible felony” as defined in the Criminal Code of 2012 (Code) (720 ILCS 5/2-8 (West 2012)) and requests that we reverse his armed habitual criminal conviction.”
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