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Illinois Compiled Statutes

725 ILCS 5/115-20 (2026)

Evidence of prior conviction

✓ current as of May 2026
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(725 ILCS 5/115-20)
    Sec. 115-20. Evidence of prior conviction.
    (a) Evidence of a prior conviction of a defendant for domestic battery, aggravated battery committed against a family or household member as defined in Section 112A-3, stalking, aggravated stalking, or violation of an order of protection is admissible in a later criminal prosecution for any of these types of offenses when the victim is the same person who was the victim of the previous offense that resulted in conviction of the defendant.
    (b) If the defendant is accused of an offense set forth in subsection (a) or the defendant is tried or retried for any of the offenses set forth in subsection (a), evidence of the defendant's conviction for another offense or offenses set forth in subsection (a) may be admissible (if that evidence is otherwise admissible under the rules of evidence) and may be considered for its bearing on any matter to which it is relevant if the victim is the same person who was the victim of the previous offense that resulted in conviction of the defendant.
    (c) In weighing the probative value of the evidence against undue prejudice to the defendant, the court may consider:
        (1) the proximity in time to the charged or predicate
    
offense;
        (2) the degree of factual similarity to the charged
    
or predicate offense; or
        (3) other relevant facts and circumstances.
    (d) In a criminal case in which the prosecution intends to offer evidence under this Section, it must disclose the evidence, including statements of witnesses or a summary of the substance of any testimony, at a reasonable time in advance of trial, or during trial if the court excuses pretrial notice on good cause shown.
    (e) In a criminal case in which evidence is offered under this Section, proof may be made by specific instances of conduct as evidenced by proof of conviction, testimony as to reputation, or testimony in the form of an expert opinion, except that the prosecution may offer reputation testimony only after the opposing party has offered that testimony.
(Source: P.A. 90-387, eff. 1-1-98.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 20 cases (10 in the last 5 years), 2011–2026 · leading case: People v. Chapman, 2012 IL 111896 (Ill. 2012).
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People v. Chapman, 2012 IL 111896 (Ill. 2012). · cites it 4× “Pursuant to section 115-20 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Code) (725 ILCS 5/115-20 (West 2006)), the State was allowed to enter into evidence that defendant had a prior conviction for domestic battery against the same victim.”
People v. Chapman, 965 N.E.2d 1119 (Ill. 2012). · cites it 4× “Pursuant to section 115-20 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Code) (725 ILCS 5/115-20 (West 2006)), the State was allowed to enter into evidence that defendant had a prior conviction for domestic battery against the same victim.”
People v. Chambers, 2011 IL App (3d) 90949 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011). · cites it 5× “Defendant appeals, arguing that the trial court erred in: (1) allowing evidence of defendant’s prior incident of domestic battery to be admitted at trial under section 115-20 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (the Code) (725 ILCS 5/115-20 (West 2008)); and (2) sentencing…”
People v. Ramirez, 2023 IL App (1st) 221227 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). · cites it 3× “On July 20, 2022, new counsel filed a posttrial motion for acquittal or a new trial, arguing, among other things, that the trial court “failed to consider 725 ILCS 5/115-20 or conduct the requisite balancing test before admitting other bad acts evidence.”
People v. Bates, 2018 IL App (4th) 160255 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). “4, and 725 ILCS 5/115-20 ). Such evidence may also be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.”
People v. Smart, 2025 IL 130127 (Ill. 2025). · cites it 2× “4, and 725 ILCS 5/115-20). Such evidence may also be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.”
People v. Degrave, 2023 IL App (1st) 192479 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). “” 725 ILCS 5/115-20 (West 2022). That statute references a “prior conviction” but clarifies that this “prior conviction” may be used in a “later criminal prosecution.”
People v. Bates, 2018 IL App (4th) 160255 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). “4, and 725 ILCS 5/115-20). Such evidence may also be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.”
People v. Richter, 2012 IL App (4th) 101025 (Ill. App. Ct. 2012). “” 725 ILCS 5/115-20 (West 2006). ¶ 92 In disposing in Chapman of one of the defendant’s arguments attacking the applicability of the statute, the supreme court noted, as follows: “Defendant points out that ‘[t]here is no crime designated “aggravated battery -15- involving a…”
People v. Ross, 2018 IL App (2d) 161079 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). · cites it 2× “¶ 23 The State argued that defendant's prior charges of domestic violence against Schaefer were relevant and admissible, where they showed motive and intent to cause injury to her and showed defendant's propensity to commit acts of domestic violence.”
People v. Ross, 2018 IL App (2d) 161079 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). “725 ILCS 5/115-20 (West 2014); People v. Chapman, 2012 IL 111896 .”
People v. Ellis, 2021 IL App (2d) 190068-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2021). · cites it 5× “¶5 Before trial, the State moved to have admitted, pursuant to section 115-20 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Code) (725 ILCS 5/115-20 (West 2018)), evidence of defendant’s 2017 conviction for domestic battery against Ashley (case No.”
Show all 20 citing cases →
— 725 ILCS 5/115-20(a) — 5 cases
People v. Chapman, 2012 IL 111896 (Ill. 2012). “Pursuant to section 115-20 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Code) (725 ILCS 5/115-20 (West 2006)), the State was allowed to enter into evidence that defendant had a prior conviction for domestic battery against the same victim.”
People v. Chapman, 965 N.E.2d 1119 (Ill. 2012). “Pursuant to section 115-20 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Code) (725 ILCS 5/115-20 (West 2006)), the State was allowed to enter into evidence that defendant had a prior conviction for domestic battery against the same victim.”
People v. Ross, 2018 IL App (2d) 161079 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). “¶ 23 The State argued that defendant's prior charges of domestic violence against Schaefer were relevant and admissible, where they showed motive and intent to cause injury to her and showed defendant's propensity to commit acts of domestic violence.”
People v. Ellis, 2021 IL App (2d) 190068-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2021). “¶5 Before trial, the State moved to have admitted, pursuant to section 115-20 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Code) (725 ILCS 5/115-20 (West 2018)), evidence of defendant’s 2017 conviction for domestic battery against Ashley (case No.”
People v. Moore, 2022 IL App (5th) 190374-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2022).
— 725 ILCS 5/115-20(b) — 3 cases
People v. Chambers, 2011 IL App (3d) 90949 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011). “Defendant appeals, arguing that the trial court erred in: (1) allowing evidence of defendant’s prior incident of domestic battery to be admitted at trial under section 115-20 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (the Code) (725 ILCS 5/115-20 (West 2008)); and (2) sentencing…”
People v. Ellis, 2021 IL App (2d) 190068-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2021). “¶5 Before trial, the State moved to have admitted, pursuant to section 115-20 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Code) (725 ILCS 5/115-20 (West 2018)), evidence of defendant’s 2017 conviction for domestic battery against Ashley (case No.”
People v. Chambers, 953 N.E.2d 1026 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011).
— 725 ILCS 5/115-20(c)(1) — 1 case
People v. Ellis, 2021 IL App (2d) 190068-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2021). “¶5 Before trial, the State moved to have admitted, pursuant to section 115-20 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Code) (725 ILCS 5/115-20 (West 2018)), evidence of defendant’s 2017 conviction for domestic battery against Ashley (case No.”
— 725 ILCS 5/115-20(d) — 1 case
People v. Chambers, 953 N.E.2d 1026 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011).
— 725 ILCS 5/115-20(e) — 1 case
People v. Chambers, 953 N.E.2d 1026 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011).
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