SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois law will soon allow victims of sexual crimes to renew orders prohibiting contact by their assailants without having to face them in court.
A law signed last week makes civil orders of no contact with survivors permanent in cases where the perpetrator was convicted.
Sen. Steve Stadelman and Rep. Dave Vella, both Rockford Democrats, sponsored the measure to limit victim trauma. Current law requires sexual-assault survivors to face their assailants in court every two years to renew no-contact orders.
“These no-contact orders are based on convictions. Convictions don’t change over time,” Stadelman said. “A survivor should not have to risk their mental and emotional health by going to court.”
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the law Friday. It takes effect Jan. 1.
Stadelman said he worked on the plan with the city of Rockford’s Office of Domestic Violence Prevention. Also participating was Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling, which suggested the lifetime order of protection. Similar protections are already in place in Illinois for stalking victims.
