Illinois Lawmakers Look to Address Domestic Violence Rise With Laws to Help Survivors

An estimated one in five homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

The CDC also reports that about 75% of female domestic violence survivors and 48% of male survivors experience some form of injury related to intimate partner violence.

The Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline reported a 9% uptick in contacts received between 2020 and 2021, according to The Network for Advocating Against Domestic Violence 2021 annual report.  In 2021, the hotline was contacted 32,363 times from across the state.

And the Chicago Police Department reported that there were 121 domestic violence-related shootings, which is a 64% increase from 2020.

With those grim statistics, Illinois lawmakers hope updates to domestic violence laws will help survivors of abuse.

“Illinois is one of the best funded states for domestic violence services.  In this year’s budget we allocated $70 million,” said state Rep. Joyce Mason (D-Gurnee).  “We also have one of the most comprehensive Domestic Violence Acts. So, we stack up very well compared to other states — but that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot of work still to be done and so many victims who need better protection and services.”