Illinois Statutes Chapter 725. Criminal Procedure § 203/30. Release and storage of sexual assault evidence

(a) A law enforcement agency having jurisdiction that is notified by a hospital or another law enforcement agency that a victim of a sexual assault or sexual abuse has received a medical forensic examination and has completed an Illinois State Police Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit shall take custody of the sexual assault evidence as soon as practicable, but in no event more than 5 days after the completion of the medical forensic examination.

(a-5) A State's Attorney who is notified under subsection (d) of Section 6.6 of the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act that a hospital is in possession of sexual assault evidence shall, within 72 hours, contact the appropriate law enforcement agency to request that the law enforcement agency take immediate physical custody of the sexual assault evidence.

(b) The written report prepared under Section 20 of this Act shall include the date and time the sexual assault evidence was picked up from the hospital and the date and time the sexual assault evidence was sent to the laboratory in accordance with the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act.

(c) If the victim of a sexual assault or sexual abuse or a person authorized under Section 6.5 of the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act has consented to allow law enforcement to test the sexual assault evidence, the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction shall submit the sexual assault evidence for testing in accordance with the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act. No law enforcement agency having jurisdiction may refuse or fail to send sexual assault evidence for testing that the victim has released for testing.

(d) A victim shall have 10 years from the completion of an Illinois State Police Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit, or 10 years from the age of 18 years, whichever is longer, to sign a written consent to release the sexual assault evidence to law enforcement for testing. If the victim or a person authorized under Section 6.5 of the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act does not sign the written consent at the completion of the medical forensic examination, the victim or person authorized by Section 6.5 of the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act may sign the written release at the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction, or in the presence of a sexual assault advocate who may deliver the written release to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction. The victim may also provide verbal consent to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction and shall verify the verbal consent via email or fax. Upon receipt of written or verbal consent, the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction shall submit the sexual assault evidence for testing in accordance with the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act. No law enforcement agency having jurisdiction may refuse or fail to send the sexual assault evidence for testing that the victim has released for testing.

(e) The law enforcement agency having jurisdiction who speaks to a victim who does not sign a written consent to release the sexual assault evidence prior to discharge from the hospital shall provide a written notice to the victim that contains the following information:

Each law enforcement agency shall develop a protocol for providing this information to victims as part of the written policies required in subsection (a) of Section 15 of this Act.

(f) A law enforcement agency must develop a protocol for responding to victims who want to sign a written consent to release the sexual assault evidence and to ensure that victims who want to be notified or have a designee notified prior to the end of the 10-year period are provided notice.

(g) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as limiting the storage period to 10 years. A law enforcement agency having jurisdiction may adopt a storage policy that provides for a period of time exceeding 10 years. If a longer period of time is adopted, the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction shall notify the victim or designee in writing of the longer storage period.