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Wrongful Imprisonment Attorneys in Illinois

Wrongful imprisonment attorneys represent people who were unlawfully or unjustly incarcerated — whether because of a false arrest, malicious prosecution, a wrongful conviction, or a systemic failure of the justice system. These attorneys fight both to secure their clients' freedom and to pursue compensation for the devastating harm that wrongful imprisonment causes to a person's life.

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State Filing Deadlines & Legal Limits

For general reference only — not legal advice. Deadlines may vary based on facts and should be verified with an attorney.

Civil Rights & Personal Injury2 years

735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/13-202

Federal § 1983 civil rights claims borrow the state personal injury statute of limitations.

Notice of Claim Against Government365 days

745 Ill. Comp. Stat. 10/8-102

Notice of injury to a local public entity or its employee must be filed within 1 year of the date of injury under the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act.

Qualified ImmunityLimited by State Law

SAFE-T Act / Pretrial Fairness Act (HB 3653, 2021)775 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/1-101 et seq.

The Illinois Human Rights Act does not provide a qualified immunity defense for state civil rights claims against government employees. The SAFE-T Act (HB 3653, 2021) also enacted significant police accountability reforms.