Jacobs' legislation increases the penalties for assault process servers

Senator Mike Jacobs (D-Moline) has passed legislation which will increase the penalties for the assault of a process server.

"Those who work with law enforcement and the courts can become targets for assault by those they are serving documents to," stated Senator Jacobs.  "We have increased the assault penalties over the years for those people who work on behalf of the State Government and law enforcement, and this legislation will extend these protections for those who work on behalf of the courts."  

Senate Bill 2004 adds to current law that if an individual commits an assault or a battery and knows the victim is a process server who is delivering court documents, then the assault or battery becomes an aggravated assault or an aggravated battery.  

The offense of aggravated assault is classified as a Class 4 felony and the offense of aggravated battery is a Class 3 felony.  A Class 4 felony is one and three years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000, while a Class 3 felony carries a penalty of between two and five years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.

"I hope that this law might be the deterrent necessary to keep process servers safe while they perform their duties," stated Jacobs.

This legislation has passed the Senate and House of Representatives and now goes to the Governor for his consideration.