ILCS » Chapter 720 · Act 5
Illinois Compiled Statutes

720 ILCS 5/32-4a (2026)

Harassment of representatives for the child, jurors, witnesses and others

✓ current as of May 2026
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(720 ILCS 5/32-4a) (from Ch. 38, par. 32-4a)
    Sec. 32-4a. Harassment of representatives for the child, jurors, witnesses and others.
    (a) A person who, with intent to harass or annoy one who has served or is serving or who is a family member of a person who has served or is serving (1) as a juror because of the verdict returned by the jury in a pending legal proceeding or the participation of the juror in the verdict or (2) as a witness, or who may be expected to serve as a witness in a pending legal proceeding, or who was expected to serve as a witness but who did not serve as a witness because the charges against the defendant were dismissed or because the defendant pleaded guilty to the charges against him or her, because of the testimony or potential testimony of the witness or person who may be expected or may have been expected to serve as a witness, communicates directly or indirectly with the juror, witness or person who may be expected or may have been expected to serve as a witness, or family member of a juror or witness or person who may be expected or may have been expected to serve as a witness in such manner as to produce mental anguish or emotional distress or who conveys a threat of injury or damage to the property or person of any juror, witness or person who may be expected or may have been expected to serve as a witness, or family member of the juror or witness or person who may be expected or may have been expected to serve as a witness commits a Class 2 felony.
    (b) A person who, with intent to harass or annoy one who has served or is serving or who is a family member of a person who has served or is serving as a representative for the child, appointed under Section 506 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act or Section 2-502 of the Code of Civil Procedure, because of the representative service of that capacity, communicates directly or indirectly with the representative or a family member of the representative in such manner as to produce mental anguish or emotional distress or who conveys a threat of injury or damage to the property or person of any representative or a family member of the representative commits a Class A misdemeanor.
    (c) For purposes of this Section, "family member" means a spouse, parent, child, stepchild or other person related by blood or by present marriage, a person who has, or allegedly has a child in common, and a person who shares or allegedly shares a blood relationship through a child.
(Source: P.A. 93-108, eff. 1-1-04; 93-818, eff. 7-27-04.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 2001–2025 · leading case: People v. Baker, 2022 IL App (4th) 210713 (Ill. App. Ct. 2022).
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People v. Baker, 2022 IL App (4th) 210713 (Ill. App. Ct. 2022). “Defendant appeals, arguing (1) the State failed to prove her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, (2) the court committed reversible error when responding to a question from the jury during its deliberations, (3) prosecutorial error denied her a fair trial, and (4) her defense…”
Round v. Lamb, 2017 IL 122271 (Ill. 2017). “4(a) (West 2012) and two related counts of witness harassment ( 720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a)(2) (West 2012)). On July 2, 2013, he pleaded guilty to two charges with the understanding that the other charges would be dropped and his sentences would be served concurrently.”
People v. Detert, 798 N.E.2d 834 (Ill. App. Ct. 2003). “Detert, was charged with multiple counts of harassment of a witness ( 720 ILCS 5/32-4a (a)(2) (West 2000)), a Class 2 felony.”
People v. Chambers, 2023 IL App (4th) 210160-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). “16-CF-299): harassment of a witness (720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a)(2) (West 2016)), bribery (720 ILCS 5/33-1(a) (West 2016)), and communication with a witness (720 ILCS 5/32-4(b) (West 2016)).”
People v. Chambers, 2023 IL App (4th) 190523-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). “The alleged offenses were harassment of a witness (720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a)(2) (West 2016)), bribery (720 ILCS 5/33-1(a) (West 2016)), and communication with a witness (id.”
People v. Hughes, 2024 IL App (1st) 232416-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2024). “On February 23, 2022, Hughes was indicted and charged with harassment of a witness, 720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a)(2) (West 2022); cyberstalking, 720 ILCS 5/12-7.”
People v. Bautista, 2025 IL App (1st) 221137-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2025). · cites it 4× “720 ILCS 5/32-4a (West 2020); 720 ILCS 5/12-6(a)(1) (West 2020).”
Brent-Bell v. City of Chicago (N.D. Ill. 2024). · cites it 3× “1 On August 15, 2016, Plaintiff, a 68-year old woman with no prior criminal history, was arrested pursuant to 720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a)(2) for allegedly harassing her long time neighbor, Griselda Perry (“Griselda”), and Griselda’s friend, Ashley Alexander (“Ashley”).”
People v. Crawford, 786 N.E.2d 640 (Ill. App. Ct. 2003). · cites it 4× “) 720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a) (West 2000). This case focuses our attention on the phrase "pending legal proceeding" in section 32-4a(a)(2) (720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a)(2) (West 2000)).”
People v. Butler (Ill. App. Ct. 2007). · cites it 4× “The witness harassment statute, section 32-4a(a) of the Criminal Code of 1961 (Code) (720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a) (West 2004)), posits: "A person who, with intent to harass or annoy one who has served or is serving *** (1) as a juror because of the verdict returned by the jury in a…”
People v. Cardamone, 883 N.E.2d 628 (Ill. App. Ct. 2008). · cites it 5× “Cardamone, was convicted of harassment of a witness (720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a) (West 2000)). The trial court denied defendant's motion for a new trial and sentenced him to three years' imprisonment.”
People v. Terry (Ill. App. Ct. 2003). · cites it 3× “" 720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a) (West 2002). On March 1, 2002, defendant moved to dismiss the indictment, arguing that it failed to state an offense.”
Show all 14 citing cases →
— 720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a) — 6 cases
People v. Bautista, 2025 IL App (1st) 221137-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2025). “720 ILCS 5/32-4a (West 2020); 720 ILCS 5/12-6(a)(1) (West 2020).”
People v. Butler (Ill. App. Ct. 2007). “The witness harassment statute, section 32-4a(a) of the Criminal Code of 1961 (Code) (720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a) (West 2004)), posits: "A person who, with intent to harass or annoy one who has served or is serving *** (1) as a juror because of the verdict returned by the jury in a…”
People v. Cardamone, 883 N.E.2d 628 (Ill. App. Ct. 2008). “Cardamone, was convicted of harassment of a witness (720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a) (West 2000)). The trial court denied defendant's motion for a new trial and sentenced him to three years' imprisonment.”
People v. Crawford, 786 N.E.2d 640 (Ill. App. Ct. 2003). “) 720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a) (West 2000). This case focuses our attention on the phrase "pending legal proceeding" in section 32-4a(a)(2) (720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a)(2) (West 2000)).”
People v. Hurtado-Rodriguez (Ill. App. Ct. 2001).
— 720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a)(2) — 9 cases
People v. Baker, 2022 IL App (4th) 210713 (Ill. App. Ct. 2022). “Defendant appeals, arguing (1) the State failed to prove her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, (2) the court committed reversible error when responding to a question from the jury during its deliberations, (3) prosecutorial error denied her a fair trial, and (4) her defense…”
Round v. Lamb, 2017 IL 122271 (Ill. 2017). “4(a) (West 2012) and two related counts of witness harassment ( 720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a)(2) (West 2012)). On July 2, 2013, he pleaded guilty to two charges with the understanding that the other charges would be dropped and his sentences would be served concurrently.”
People v. Chambers, 2023 IL App (4th) 210160-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). “16-CF-299): harassment of a witness (720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a)(2) (West 2016)), bribery (720 ILCS 5/33-1(a) (West 2016)), and communication with a witness (720 ILCS 5/32-4(b) (West 2016)).”
People v. Chambers, 2023 IL App (4th) 190523-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). “The alleged offenses were harassment of a witness (720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a)(2) (West 2016)), bribery (720 ILCS 5/33-1(a) (West 2016)), and communication with a witness (id.”
People v. Hughes, 2024 IL App (1st) 232416-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2024). “On February 23, 2022, Hughes was indicted and charged with harassment of a witness, 720 ILCS 5/32-4a(a)(2) (West 2022); cyberstalking, 720 ILCS 5/12-7.”
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