$4.2 million designated to help victims of domestic violence and sexual assault

Funds will support shelters and assistance centers for victims around the state, improve training for police officers and prosecutors         

[OCT. 1, 2005]  CHICAGO -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced Sept. 13 that the U.S. Department of Justice has granted Illinois $4.2 million for programs to help women who have been victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. The grants will support two centers, in central Illinois and the East St. Louis area, that will house law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges and service providers, so that victims do not have to go from place to place to get the legal assistance and social services they need. The program will also support shelters for domestic violence victims throughout the state, as well as training for law enforcement officers and prosecutors so that victims only have to give testimony once.

"Women who are victims of sexual assault and domestic violence need immediate help, without having to go from place to place talking to police officers, prosecutors and judges, and having to give their testimony over and over again," Blagojevich said. "This funding will allow us to provide victims in different parts of the state with immediate assistance in just one place, and it will help us train our officers so they are responsive and sensitive to the victim's needs."

The assistance centers, which are located in Peoria and Belleville and were opened one year ago, enable law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges and victim service providers to work from one facility so that victims of domestic violence and sexual assault immediately get the legal help and counseling they need all at once. The integrated centers are a new, multidisciplinary approach in criminal justice to provide the most assistance possible to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

The federal funding will also support shelters for domestic violence victims in Rockford, Quincy, DeKalb, Olney, Freeport, Chicago, Tinley Park, Addison and Aurora.

The grant will also help train law enforcement officers, prosecutors and victim service advocates to respond more effectively to victims, and it will reduce the anxiety and humiliation victims often suffer when having to render their testimony more than once or submit to evidence collection at different places.

The training will allow police officers to provide victims a card at their home to access the assistance centers and to be interviewed only once by the police, the state's attorney and the victim service advocates. It will also allow for evidence to be collected and photos to be taken only once at the centers and to immediately give victims any additional information and referrals they need.

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is the state agency designated to administer funds granted under the Violence Against Women Act. The agency disbursed funds under the act to 75 programs across Illinois between July 1, 2004, and June 30, 2005.

McLean, Peoria, and St. Clair counties received funding last year to enhance their multidisciplinary response teams.

"Multidisciplinary programs have been very successful, and we will continue to support innovative partnerships serving victims in Illinois," said Lori G. Levin, executive director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.

The agency relies on statistical data, surveys of the criminal justice and victim service agencies, and its own Ad Hoc Committee on Violence Against Women to recommend priorities for funding under the Violence Against Women Act. The funding allocations are as follows: 25 percent to law enforcement, 25 percent to prosecution, 30 percent to service providers and 5 percent to courts. The remaining 15 percent may be allocated at the state's discretion.

Funds under the Violence Against Women Act have a two-year life span and must be spent in accordance with a plan submitted to the Violence Against Women Office, U.S. Department of Justice.

This funding builds upon the governor's ongoing efforts to fight crime and assist victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Last month, the governor signed into law a bill that closed a loophole that had allowed criminals convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence to receive their surrendered firearms after having completed their sentences. This statute was in conflict with federal law, which prohibits people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence from possessing firearms.

During the last decade, the government's response to domestic violence has increased in both effort and effectiveness. The Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 ushered in a new era for the state, and recent Supreme Court rulings have put more "teeth" into the law by effectively mandating the law enforcement act to protect victims of domestic abuse as a way to reduce these dangerous incidents.

The governor also signed a bill that allows victims of violent crime, including domestic violence victims, who must relocate for safety reasons to qualify for reimbursement for the first month's rent, security deposit and other reasonable relocation expenses.

[News release from the governor's office]