Delays In Reporting Crimes to the Police In Illinois

The Court has previously held that delays in reporting crimes to the police will bar compensation under the Crime Victims Compensation Act. (In re Application of Smith (1981), 35 Ill. Ct. Cl. 536; In re Application of Goodwin (1976), 31 Ill. Ct. Cl. 716.) In Smith, a nine-day delay in reporting a sexual assault caused a claim for compensation to be denied after the Claimant failed to establish that such notification was timely under the circumstances. (Smith, 35 Ill. Ct. Cl. at 538.) In Goodwin, the Court stressed that one of the objectives of the Act is to encourage prompt notification of crimes to law enforcement officials and full cooperation with law enforcement officials. (Goodwin, 31 Ill. Ct. Cl. at 717.) The Court also stressed that the Claimant's delay in reporting the crime may have prevented apprehension of the suspect. Id.