- Published: Wednesday, February 23, 2022 11:24 AM
SPRINGFIELD – Leading legislation to give survivors of abuse more comfort and accessibility filing a protective order, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) hosted a press conference Wednesday to bring more awareness to the ongoing issues survivors face.
“The weight of trauma a survivor carries becomes detrimental as they struggle to cope with grief and take the steps necessary to begin to heal,” Stadelman said. “By giving survivors the opportunity to file for protective orders at their own pace in the safety of their own home, we are giving them the keys to move forward.”
Stadelman’s measure would give people the option to file a protective order either online or in-person. The measure would also require any court in a county with a population above 250,000 to offer the option of a remote hearing to the petitioner for a protective order.
“As legislators, it is our responsibility to ensure the safety and wellbeing of survivors of domestic abuse through the entirety of the reporting process,” said State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport), a chief co-sponsor of the legislation. “The justice system should provide support for any trauma survivor attempting to find peace.”
Any and all types of protective orders would be covered under this legislation.