Illinois § 103-3.5

Full text of Illinois Illinois Compiled Statutes § 103-3.5, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 103-3.5.

Right to communicate with attorney and family; transfers; presumption of inadmissibility. (a) Persons who are in police custody shall have the right to communicate free of charge with an attorney of his or her choice and members of his or her family as soon as possible upon being taken into police custody, but no later than 3 hours of arrival at the first place of detention. Persons in police custody must be given access to use a telephone via a landline or cellular phone to make 3 telephone calls. (b) In accordance with Section 103-7, at every police facility where a person is in police custody, a sign containing at minimum, the following information in bold block type must be posted in a conspicuous place: (1) a short statement notifying persons who are in police custody of their right to have access to a phone within 3 hours of being taken into police custody; and (2) that persons who are in police custody have the right to make 3 phone calls within 3 hours of being taken into custody, at no charge. (c) In addition to the information listed in subsection (b), if the place of detention is located in a jurisdiction where the court has appointed the public defender or other attorney to represent persons who are in police custody, the telephone number to the public defender or other attorney's office must also be displayed. The telephone call to the public defender or other attorney must not be monitored, eavesdropped upon, or recorded. (d) If a person who is in police custody is transferred to a new place of detention, that person's right to make 3 telephone calls under this Section within 3 hours of arrival is renewed. (e) Statements made by a person who is detained in police custody in violation of this section are presumed inadmissible in court as evidence. The presumption of inadmissibility may be overcome by a preponderance of the evidence that the statement was voluntarily given and is reliable, based on the totality of the circumstances. As used in this subsection, "totality of the circumstances" includes, but is not limited to, evidence that law enforcement knowingly prevented or delayed a person's right to communicate or failed to comply with the requirements of this Section. (f) The 3-hour requirement under this Section shall not apply while the person in police custody is asleep, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated or an exigent circumstance prevents the officers from timely complying with this Section. If this occurs, it must be documented within the police report detailing the exigent circumstance. Once the exigent circumstance ends, the right to make 3 phone calls within 3 hours resumes. (g) In accordance with this Section, the following records shall be maintained: (i) the number of phone calls the person made while in custody; (ii) the time or times the person made phone calls; and (iii) if the person did not make any phone calls, a statement of the reason or reasons why no calls were made. (h) For purposes of this Section, "place of detention" means a building or a police station that is a place of operation for a municipal police department or county sheriff department or other law enforcement agency, other than a courthouse, that is owned or operated by a law enforcement agency, or other building, such as a school or hospital, where persons are held in detention in connection with criminal charges against those persons. (Source: P.A. 102-694, eff. 1-7-22.)

Frequently Asked Questions About Illinois § 103-3.5

What does Illinois Compiled Statutes § 103-3.5 cover?

Section 103-3.5 is part of the Illinois Compiled Statutes, the codified statutory law of Illinois. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Illinois § 103-3.5?

A common citation format is "Illinois Compiled Statutes § 103-3.5" (Illinois). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Illinois law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Illinois official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Illinois attorney.

How does Illinois § 103-3.5 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Illinois can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Illinois.