Protecting victims of domestic violence must be a priority, and right now Illinois law is not doing enough to keep people safe. As domestic violence-related deaths continue to climb across our state, it is clear that the system is failing too many families who are relying on the law for protection.
Data from the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence shows a 140 percent increase in domestic violence-related deaths between 2022 and 2024. In far too many cases, abusers are able to violate orders of protection again and again with minimal consequences, putting victims back in harm’s way and forcing them to live in constant fear.
The legislation I am co-sponsoring is designed to close those gaps. These proposals would strengthen pretrial standards in serious domestic violence cases, create stronger consequences for repeat violations of protective orders, and ensure courts take an offender’s full history into account when sentencing. They also establish minimum holding periods for repeat offenders to give victims time to find safety and support.
An order of protection should provide real security, not false reassurance. This legislation is about empowering victims and giving courts the tools they need to stop repeat abuse before it escalates into tragedy.
