New laws protecting the victims of domestic violence

Posted on August 23, 2021
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – More people than you would probably guess are victims of domestic violence. Lt. Gov. Juliana Strattion runs down the numbers:

“According to the Illinois Coalition against Domestic Violence, in 2019, there were 43,318 adult survivors of domestic violence living in Illinois. These survivors and their children received 52,000 hours of housing, employment, and education support; spent over 376 000 nights in emergency shelters; and received 130,000 hours of legal advocacy and support.”

Gov. JB Pritzker Friday signed seven bills, including one aiming to make schools safer for children who are victims; establishing a task force inspired by the murder of an 18-month-old baby by his father; and setting up a laminated “Hope Card” to take the place of a paper order of protection.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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