SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman advanced legislation through the Senate that would strengthen protections for survivors of domestic violence and stalking by eliminating gaps that can occur between emergency and final orders of protection, ensuring continuous enforcement during the transition.
“This proposal came directly from a real situation where someone’s safety was put at risk because of a delay,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “We shouldn’t allow technicalities to override common sense when it comes to protecting victims.”
Through Senate Bill 3044, Stadelman is leading the charge to protect survivors of domestic abuse by ensuring an emergency order of protection remains in effect until the plenary, or final, order of protection has been served. Under current law, after a judge grants a plenary order, the emergency order initially granted is no longer in effect.
“After a long year of being harassed and threatened, I was granted a no-contact stalking order by a judge. I left the courtroom believing that I was going to be protected by that order,” said Elizabeth Malone, a resident of Winnebago County. “The most frightening part of this is not the harassment, it was realizing the system that I trusted to protect me and to protect others didn’t function the way that I thought and the way that it should. No one else should have to go through this and I’m sure that they have and that they are. Please help ensure that survivors and victims in Illinois are never again left vulnerable because of paperwork and gaps in procedure.”
“We are strengthening the integrity of protective orders by making sure there is no lapse between court approval and enforcement,” Stadelman said. “This legislation sends a clear message that protection means protection – every moment, without exception.”
Senate Bill 3044 passed the Senate on Thursday and heads to the House for further deliberation.
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