IL HB6037

Adds serious mental illness as a mitigating factor in sentencing under Illinois's Unified Code of Corrections (Section 5-5-3.1).

Allows courts to consider that a defendant suffered from serious mental illness at the time of the offense, even if insufficient to establish an insanity defense, as grounds to reduce or withhold imprisonment.

Specifies the mental illness must have substantially affected the defendant's ability to understand the nature of their acts or conform their conduct to the law.

This mitigating factor joins 15 existing factors courts may consider when determining appropriate sentences, including provocation, lack of prior criminal history, and victim compensation.

Takes effect upon becoming law.