SPRINGFIELD — In response to the dramatic rise in domestic violence-related deaths, Illinois Senate Republicans on Thursday introduced a legislative package to help protect victims by strengthening enforcement of protective orders and providing more options for detainment to allow victims to get the help and services they need.
The proposal comes after the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence reported 137 domestic violence–related deaths in 2024, a 14 percent increase from the prior year and a 140 percent increase since 2022.
“As a former prosecutor in Cook County, I understand not just the physical toll that domestic violence has on victims but also the stress, fear, time, and resources it can take to follow through with legal action,” said Senate Minority Leader John Curran (R–Downers Grove). “This legislative package is just one step towards lowering the domestic violence death rate, empowering and protecting victims and, hopefully, helping to end the cycle of domestic violence that has hurt – and taken – far too many lives.”
Curran filed Senate Bill 3139, which would help establish a cooling-off period in serious domestic violence cases by requiring suspects to prove they do not pose a real and present danger before being released pretrial. The bill applies to violations of orders of protection, civil no contact orders, stalking no contact orders, and cases involving domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery.
Senator Steve McClure (R-Springfield) introduced Senate Bill 3140 to increase penalties for abusers who violate orders of protection. Under the legislation, violating an order of protection would no longer be a misdemeanor, but would be a felony. Repeated violations would become a higher-class felony.
“Currently, violating an order of protection is charged as a misdemeanor – allowing abusers to attack victims over and over again, terrorizing their victims with few legal consequences,” McClure said. “This legislation will give law enforcement more options to enforce violations, and increased charges will hopefully result in jail time, keeping abusers away from victims, and allow the victim to get services.”
Senator Darby Hills (R-Barrington Hills) has also filed Senate Bill 3141,which would impose minimum holding times for repeat violations of protective, no contact, and stalking orders, as well as Senate Bill 3142, which wouldenhance penalties for repeat offenders by requiring courts to consider prior convictions across different types of protective orders
“Our goal is simple: protect victims, hold abusers accountable, and give law enforcement and courts the tools they need to intervene before another life is lost,” Hills said. “Illinois families deserve a system that takes domestic violence seriously, stands with survivors, and acts before it is too late.”
The legislators unveiled their proposals at a Capitol press conference where they were joined by Dakota Sebring, a domestic violence survivor. Sebring shared how current Illinois law allowed her abuser to violate his order of protection over and over again, terrorizing her and her young child.
“I had faith in our system and believed these orders meant safety and stability for myself and my child,” Sebring said. “But current law leaves the burden on victims to prove danger and face repeated violations before real consequences happen. If increasing these protections saves just one victim, then it is worth it, and I encourage all lawmakers to consider how they too can help stop this deadly cycle.”
The full press conference can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/cggmkFU_f6g