Generally, domestic battery is prosecuted as a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine (up to $2,500) and jail time (up to one year).

At the same time, Illinois domestic violence laws have provisions that allow prosecutors to upgrade domestic violence to a Class 2 felony if you have a prior conviction of aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery with a firearm, kidnapping, criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, and a number of other offenses that are similar in nature to domestic violence. The full list of prior convictions that can cause a domestic violence charge to be upgraded into a felony can be found here.