ILLINOIS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT BOOKLET CONTENT
Chapter 13--Continued
Order of Protection in Criminal Court
Illinois Domestic Violence Act
Mutual orders of protection;
correlative separate orders
(725 ILCS 5/112A-15)
Mutual orders of
protection are prohibited. Correlative separate orders of protection undermine
the purposes of this Article. If separate orders of protection in a criminal
or delinquency case are sought, there must be compliance with Section 112A-2.
Nothing in this Section prohibits a party from seeking a civil order of
protection.
If correlative separate
orders of protection result after being sought in separate criminal or
delinquency actions in accordance with Section 112A-2, that fact shall not be a
sufficient basis to deny any remedy to either petitioner or to prove that the
parties are equally at fault or equally endangered.
Accountability for Actions of
Others
(725 ILCS 5/112A-16)
For the purposes of
issuing an order of protection, deciding what remedies should be included and
enforcing the order, Article 5 of the Criminal Code of 1961 shall govern
whether respondent is legally accountable for the conduct of another person.
Emergency order of protection
(725 ILCS 5/112A-17)
(a) Prerequisites. An
emergency order of protection shall issue if petitioner satisfies the
requirements of this subsection for one or more of the requested remedies. For
each remedy requested, petitioner shall establish that:
(1) The court has
jurisdiction under Section 112A-9;
(2) The
requirements of Section 112A-14 are satisfied; and
(3) There is good
cause to grant the remedy, regardless of prior service of process or of notice
upon the respondent, because:
(i) For the
remedies of "prohibition of abuse" described in Section 112A-14(b)(1), "stay
away order and additional prohibitions" described in Section 112A-14(b)(3),
"removal or concealment of minor child" described in Section 112A-14(b)(8),
"order to appear" described in Section 112A-14(b)(9), "physical care and
possession of the minor child" described in Section 112A-14(b)(5) , "protection
of property" described in Section 112A-14(b)(11), "prohibition of entry"
described in Section 112A-14(b)(14) , "prohibition of access to records"
described in Section 112A-14(b)(15), and "injunctive relief" described in
Section 112A-14(b)(16), the harm which that remedy is intended to prevent would
be likely to occur if the respondent were given any prior notice, or greater
notice than was actually given, of the petitioner's efforts to obtain judicial
relief;
(ii) For the
remedy of "grant of exclusive possession of residence" described in Section
112A-14(b)(2), the immediate danger of further abuse of petitioner by
respondent, if petitioner chooses or had chosen to remain in the residence or
household while respondent was given any prior notice or greater notice than
was actually given of petitioner's efforts to obtain judicial relief, outweighs
the hardships to respondent of an emergency order granting petitioner exclusive
possession of the residence or household. This remedy shall not be denied
because petitioner has or could obtain temporary shelter elsewhere while prior
notice is given to respondent, unless the hardships to respondent from
exclusion from the home substantially outweigh those to petitioner.
(iii) For the
remedy of "possession of personal property" described in Section
112A-14(b)(10), improper disposition of the personal property would be likely
to occur if respondent were given any prior notice, or greater notice than was
actually given, of petitioner's efforts to obtain judicial relief, or
petitioner has an immediate and pressing need for possession of that property.
An emergency order may
not include the counseling, legal custody, payment of support or monetary
compensation remedies.
(b) Appearance by
respondent. If respondent appears in court for this hearing for an emergency
order, he or she may elect to file a general appearance and testify. Any
resulting order may be an emergency order, governed by this Section.
Notwithstanding the requirements of this Section, if all requirements of
Section 112A-18 have been met, the Court may issue a 30-day interim order.
(c) Emergency orders:
court holidays and evenings.
(1) Prerequisites.
When the court is unavailable at the close of business, the petitioner may file
a petition for a 21-day emergency order before any available circuit judge or
associate judge who may grant relief under this Article. If the judge finds
that there is an immediate and present danger of abuse to petitioner and that
petitioner has satisfied the prerequisites set forth in subsection (a) of
Section 112A-17, that judge may issue an emergency order of protection.
(1.5) Issuance of
order. The chief judge of the circuit court may designate for each county in
the circuit at least one judge to be reasonably available to issue orally, by
telephone, by facsimile, or otherwise, an emergency order of protection at all
times, whether or not the court is in session.
(2) Certification
and transfer. Any order issued under this Section and any documentation in
support thereof shall be certified on the next court day to the appropriate
court. The clerk of that court shall immediately assign a case number, file the
petition, order and other documents with the court and enter the order of
record and file it with the sheriff for service, in accordance with Section
112A-22. Filing the petition shall commence proceedings for further relief,
under Section 112A-2. Failure to comply with the requirements of this
subsection shall not affect the validity of the order.
30-Day interim order of protection
(725 ILCS 5/112A-18)
(a) Prerequisites. An
interim order of protection shall issue if petitioner has served notice of the
hearing for that order on respondent, in accordance with Section 112A-11, and
satisfies the requirements of this subsection for one or more of the requested
remedies. For each remedy requested, petitioner shall establish that:
(1) The court has
jurisdiction under Section 112A-9;
(2) The
requirements of Section 112A-14 are satisfied; and
(3) A general
appearance was made or filed by or for respondent; or process was served on
respondent in the manner required by Section 112A-10; or the petitioner is
diligently attempting to complete the required service of process.
An interim order may
not include the counseling, payment of support or monetary compensation
remedies unless the respondent has filed a general appearance or has been
personally served.
(b) Appearance by
respondent. If respondent appears in court for this hearing for an interim
order, he or she may elect to file a general appearance and testify. Any
resulting order may be an interim order, governed by this Section.
Notwithstanding the requirements of this Section, if all requirements of
Section 112A-19 have been met, the Court may issue a plenary order of
protection.
Plenary Order of Protection
(725 ILCS 5/112A-19)
A plenary order of
protection shall issue if petitioner has served notice of the hearing for that
order on respondent, in accordance with Section 112A-11, and satisfies the
requirements of this Section for one or more of the requested remedies. For
each remedy requested, petitioner must establish that:
(1) The court has
jurisdiction under Section 112A-9;
(2) The requirements of
Section 112A-14 are satisfied; and
(3) A general
appearance was made or filed by or for respondent or process was served on
respondent in the manner required by Section 112A-10; and
(4) Respondent has
answered or is in default.
Duration and extension of orders
(725 ILCS 5/112A-20)
(a) Duration of
emergency and interim orders. Unless re-opened or extended or voided by entry
of an order of greater duration:
(1) Emergency
orders issued under Section 112A-17 shall be effective for not less than 14 nor
more than 21 days;
(2) Interim orders
shall be effective for up to 30 days.
(b) Duration of plenary
orders. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, a plenary order of
protection shall be valid for a fixed period of time not to exceed 2 years. A
plenary order of protection entered in conjunction with a criminal prosecution
shall remain in effect as follows:
(1) if entered
during pre-trial release, until disposition, withdrawal, or dismissal of the
underlying charge; if, however, the case is continued as an independent cause
of action, the order's duration may be for a fixed period of time not to exceed
2 years;
(2) if in effect in
conjunction with a bond forfeiture warrant, until final disposition or an
additional period of time not exceeding 2 years; no order of protection,
however, shall be terminated by a dismissal that is accompanied by the issuance
of a bond forfeiture warrant;
(3) until
expiration of any supervision, conditional discharge, probation, periodic
imprisonment, parole or mandatory supervised release and for an additional
period of time thereafter not exceeding 2 years; or
(4) until the date
set by the court for expiration of any sentence of imprisonment and subsequent
parole or mandatory supervised release and for an additional period of time
thereafter not exceeding 2 years.
(c) Computation of
time. The duration of an order of protection shall not be reduced by the
duration of any prior order of protection.
(d) Law enforcement
records. When a plenary order of protection expires upon the occurrence of a
specified event, rather than upon a specified date as provided in subsection
(b), no expiration date shall be entered in Department of State Police
records. To remove the plenary order from those records, either party shall
request the clerk of the court to file a certified copy of an order stating
that the specified event has occurred or that the plenary order has been
vacated or modified with the sheriff, and the sheriff shall direct that law
enforcement records shall be promptly corrected in accordance with the filed
order.
(e) Extension of
Orders. Any emergency, interim or plenary order of protection may be extended
one or more times, as required, provided that the requirements of Section
112A-17, 112A-18 or 112A-19, as appropriate, are satisfied. If the motion for
extension is uncontested and petitioner seeks no modification of the order, the
order may be extended on the basis of petitioner's motion or affidavit stating
that there has been no material change in relevant circumstances since entry of
the order and stating the reason for the requested extension. Extensions may be
granted only in open court and not under the provisions of Section 112A-17(c),
which applies only when the court is unavailable at the close of business or on
a court holiday.
(f) Termination date.
Any order of protection which would expire on a court holiday shall instead
expire at the close of the next court business day.
(g) Statement of
purpose. The practice of dismissing or suspending a criminal prosecution in
exchange for issuing an order of protection undermines the purposes of this
Article. This Section shall not be construed as encouraging that practice.
Contents of orders
(725 ILCS 5/112A-21)
(a) Any order of
protection shall describe, in reasonable detail and not by reference to any
other document, the following:
(1) Each remedy
granted by the court, in reasonable detail and not by reference to any other
document, so that respondent may clearly understand what he or she must do or
refrain from doing. Pre-printed form orders of protection shall include the
definitions of the types of abuse, as provided in Section 112A-3. Remedies set
forth in pre-printed form orders shall be numbered consistently with and
corresponding to the numerical sequence of remedies listed in Section 112A-14
(at least as of the date the form orders are printed).
(2) The reason for
denial of petitioner's request for any remedy listed in Section 112A-14.
(b) An order of
protection shall further state the following:
(1) The name of
each petitioner that the court finds was abused by respondent, and that
respondent is a member of the family or household of each such petitioner, and
the name of each other person protected by the order and that such person is
protected by this Act.
(2) For any remedy
requested by petitioner on which the court has declined to rule, that that
remedy is reserved.
(3) The date and
time the order of protection was issued, whether it is an emergency, interim or
plenary order and the duration of the order.
(4) The date, time
and place for any scheduled hearing for extension of that order of protection
or for another order of greater duration or scope.
(5) For each remedy
in an emergency order of protection, the reason for entering that remedy
without prior notice to respondent or greater notice than was actually given.
(6) For emergency
and interim orders of protection, that respondent may petition the court, in
accordance with Section 112A-24, to re-open that order if he or she did not
receive actual prior notice of the hearing, in accordance with Section 112A-11,
and alleges that he or she had a meritorious defense to the order or that the
order or any of its remedies was not authorized by this Article.
(c) Any order of
protection shall include the following notice, printed in conspicuous type:
"Any knowing violation of an order of protection forbidding physical abuse,
harassment, intimidation, interference with personal liberty, willful
deprivation, or entering or remaining present at specified places when the
protected person is present, or granting exclusive possession of the residence
or household, or granting a stay away order is a Class A misdemeanor. Grant of
exclusive possession of the residence or household shall constitute notice
forbidding trespass to land. Any knowing violation of an order awarding legal
custody or physical care of a child or prohibiting removal or concealment of a
child may be a Class 4 felony. Any willful violation of any order is contempt
of court. Any violation may result in fine or imprisonment."
(d) An emergency order of
protection shall state, "This Order of Protection is enforceable, even without
registration, in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, tribal lands, and the
U.S. territories pursuant to the Violence Against Women Act (18 U.S.C. 2265).
Violating this Order of Protection may subject the respondent to federal
charges and punishment (18 U.S.C. 2261‑2262)."
(e) An interim or plenary order of protection shall state, "This Order of
Protection is enforceable, even without registration, in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia, tribal lands, and the U.S. territories pursuant to the
Violence Against Women Act (18 U.S.C. 2265). Violating this Order of Protection
may subject the respondent to federal charges and punishment (18 U.S.C.
2261‑2262). The respondent may be subject to federal criminal penalties for
possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving any firearm or ammunition
under the Gun Control Act (18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8) and (9))."
Notice
of orders
(725 ILCS 5/112A-22)
(a) Entry and
issuance. Upon issuance of any order of protection, the clerk shall
immediately, or on the next court day if an emergency order is issued in
accordance with subsection (c) of Section 112A-17, (i) enter the order on the
record and file it in accordance with the circuit court procedures and (ii)
provide a file stamped copy of the order to respondent, if present, and to
petitioner.
(b) Filing with
sheriff. The clerk of the issuing judge shall, or the petitioner may, on the
same day that an order of protection is issued, file a copy of that order with
the sheriff or other law enforcement officials charged with maintaining
Department of State Police records or charged with serving the order upon
respondent. If the order was issued in accordance with subsection (c) of
Section 112A-17, the clerk shall on the next court day, file a certified copy
of the order with the Sheriff or other law enforcement officials charged with
maintaining Department of State Police records.
(c) Service by sheriff.
Unless respondent was present in court when the order was issued, the sheriff,
other law enforcement official or special process server shall promptly serve
that order upon respondent and file proof of such service, in the manner
provided for service of process in civil proceedings.
Instead of serving the
order upon the respondent, however, the sheriff, other law enforcement
official, or special process server may serve the respondent with a short form
notification as provided in Section 112A‑22.10
If process has not yet been served upon the respondent, it shall be served with
the order or short form notification.
(c-5) If the person
against whom the order of protection is issued is arrested and the written
order is issued in accordance with subsection (c) of Section 112A-17 and
received by the custodial law enforcement agency before the respondent or
arrestee is released from custody, the custodial law enforcement agent shall
promptly serve the order upon the respondent or arrestee before the respondent
or arrestee is released from custody. In no event shall detention of the
respondent or arrestee be extended for hearing on the petition for order of
protection or receipt of the order issued under Section 112A-17 of this Code.
(d) Extensions,
modifications and revocations. Any order extending, modifying or revoking any
order of protection shall be promptly recorded, issued and served as provided
in this Section.
Filing
of an order of protection issued in another state
(725 ILCS 5/112A-22.5)
(a) A person entitled
to protection under an order of protection issued by the court of another
state, tribe, or United States territory may file a certified copy of the order
of protection with the clerk of the court in a judicial circuit in which the
person believes that enforcement may be necessary.
(b) The clerk shall:
(1) treat the
foreign order of protection in the same manner as a judgment of the circuit
court for any county of this State in accordance with the provisions of the
Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act, except that the clerk shall not
mail notice of the filing of the foreign order to the respondent named in the
order; and
(2) on the same
day that a foreign order of protection is filed, file a certified copy of that
order with the sheriff or other law enforcement officials charged with
maintaining Department of State Police records as set forth in Section 112A-22
of this Act.
(c) Neither residence
in this State nor filing of a foreign order of protection shall be required for
enforcement of the order by this State. Failure to file the foreign order shall
not be an impediment to its treatment in all respects as an Illinois order of
protection.
(d) The clerk shall
not charge a fee to file a foreign order of protection under this Section.
(e) The sheriff shall
inform the Department of State Police as set forth in Section 112A-28 of this
Act.
Short form
notification
(725 ILCS 5/112A‑22.10)
(a)
Instead of personal service of an order of protection under Section 112A‑22, a
sheriff, other law enforcement official, or special process server may serve a
respondent with a short form notification. The short form notification must
include the following items:
(1) The respondent's name.
(2) The respondent's date of birth, if known.
(3) The petitioner's name.
(4) The names of other protected parties.
(5) The date and county in which the order of protection was filed.
(6)
The court file number.
(7) The hearing date and time, if known.
(8) The conditions that apply to the respondent, either in checklist
form or handwritten.
(9)
The name of the judge who signed the order.
(b) The short form notification must contain the following notice in bold
print:
"The order of protection is now enforceable. You must report to the office
of the sheriff or the office of the circuit court in (name of county) County to
obtain a copy of the order of protection. You are subject to arrest and may be
charged with a misdemeanor or felony if you violate any of the terms of the
order of protection."
(c) Upon verification of
the identity of the respondent and the existence of an unserved order of
protection against the respondent, a sheriff or other law enforcement official
may detain the respondent for a reasonable time necessary to complete and serve
the short form notification.
(d) When service is made by short form notification under this Section, it
may be proved by the affidavit of the sheriff, other law enforcement official,
or special process server making the service.
(e) The Attorney General shall provide adequate copies of the short form
notification form to law enforcement agencies in this State.
Enforcement of orders of protection
(725 ILCS 5/112A-23)
(a) When violation is
crime. A violation of any order of protection, whether issued in a civil,
quasi-criminal proceeding, shall be enforced by a criminal court when:
(1) The respondent
commits the crime of violation of an order of protection pursuant to Section
12-30 of the Criminal Code of 1961, by having knowingly violated:
(i) remedies
described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (14), or (14.5) of subsection (b) of
Section 112A-14,
(ii) a remedy,
which is substantially similar to the remedies authorized under paragraphs (1),
(2), (3), (14) or (14.5) of subsection (b) of Section 214 of the Illinois
Domestic Violence Act of 1986, in a valid order of protection, which is
authorized under the laws of another state, tribe or United States territory,
(iii) or any
other remedy when the act constitutes a crime against the protected parties as
defined by the Criminal Code of 1961.
Prosecution for a
violation of an order of protection shall not bar concurrent prosecution for
any other crime, including any crime that may have been committed at the time
of the violation of the order of protection; or
(2) The respondent
commits the crime of child abduction pursuant to Section 10-5 of the Criminal
Code of 1961, by having knowingly violated:
(i) remedies
described in paragraphs (5), (6) or (8) of subsection (b) of Section 112A-14,
or
(ii) a remedy,
which is substantially similar to the remedies authorized under paragraphs (1),
(5), (6), or (8) of subsection (b) of Section 214 of the Illinois Domestic
Violence Act of 1986, in a valid order of protection, which is authorized under
the laws of another state, tribe or United States territory.
(b) When violation is
contempt of court. A violation of any valid order of protection, whether
issued in a civil or criminal proceeding, may be enforced through civil or
criminal contempt procedures, as appropriate, by any court with jurisdiction,
regardless where the act or acts which violated the order of protection were
committed, to the extent consistent with the venue provisions of this Article.
Nothing in this Article shall preclude any Illinois court from enforcing any
valid order of protection issued in another state. Illinois courts may enforce
orders of protection through both criminal prosecution and contempt
proceedings, unless the action which is second in time is barred by collateral
estoppel or the constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy.
(1) In a contempt
proceeding where the petition for a rule to show cause sets forth facts
evidencing an immediate danger that the respondent will flee the jurisdiction,
conceal a child, or inflict physical abuse on the petitioner or minor children
or on dependent adults in petitioner's care, the court may order the attachment
of the respondent without prior service of the rule to show cause or the
petition for a rule to show cause. Bond shall be set unless specifically
denied in writing.
(2) A petition for
a rule to show cause for violation of an order of protection shall be treated
as an expedited proceeding.
(c) Violation of
custody or support orders. A violation of remedies described in paragraphs
(5), (6), (8), or (9) of subsection (b) of Section 112A-14 may be enforced by
any remedy provided by Section 611 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of
Marriage Act. The court may enforce any order for support issued under
paragraph (12) of subsection (b) of Section 112A-14 in the manner provided for
under Articles V and VII of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage
Act.
(d) Actual knowledge.
An order of protection may be enforced pursuant to this Section if the
respondent violates the order after respondent has actual knowledge of its
contents as shown through one of the following means:
(1) By service,
delivery, or notice under Section 112A-10.
(2) By notice under
Section 112A-11.
(3) By service of
an order of protection under Section 112A-22.
(4) By other means
demonstrating actual knowledge of the contents of the order.
(e) The enforcement of
an order of protection in civil or criminal court shall not be affected by
either of the following:
(1) The existence
of a separate, correlative order entered under Section 112A-15.
(2) Any finding or
order entered in a conjoined criminal proceeding.
(f) Circumstances. The
court, when determining whether or not a violation of an order of protection
has occurred, shall not require physical manifestations of abuse on the person
of the victim.
(g) Penalties.
(1) Except as
provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, where the court finds the
commission of a crime or contempt of court under subsections (a) or (b) of this
Section, the penalty shall be the penalty that generally applies in such
criminal or contempt proceedings, and may include one or more of the following:
incarceration, payment of restitution, a fine, payment of attorneys' fees and
costs, or community service.
(2) The court shall
hear and take into account evidence of any factors in aggravation or mitigation
before deciding an appropriate penalty under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(3) To the extent
permitted by law, the court is encouraged to:
(i) increase
the penalty for the knowing violation of any order of protection over any
penalty previously imposed by any court for respondent's violation of any order
of protection or penal statute involving petitioner as victim and respondent as
defendant;
(ii) impose a
minimum penalty of 24 hours imprisonment for respondent's first violation of
any order of protection; and
(iii) impose a
minimum penalty of 48 hours imprisonment for respondent's second or subsequent
violation of an order of protection unless the court explicitly finds that an
increased penalty or that period of imprisonment would be manifestly unjust.
(4) In addition to
any other penalties imposed for a violation of an order of protection, a
criminal court may consider evidence of any violations of an order of
protection:
(i) to
increase, revoke or modify the bail bond on an underlying criminal charge
pursuant to Section 110-6;
(ii) to revoke
or modify an order of probation, conditional discharge or supervision, pursuant
to Section 5-6-4 of the Unified Code of Corrections;
(iii) to revoke
or modify a sentence of periodic imprisonment, pursuant to Section 5-7-2 of the
Unified Code of Corrections.
Modification and re-opening of orders
(725 ILCS 5/112A-24)
(a) Except as otherwise
provided in this Section, upon motion by petitioner, the court may modify an
emergency, interim, or plenary order of protection:
(1) If respondent
has abused petitioner since the hearing for that order, by adding or altering
one or more remedies, as authorized by Section 112A-14; and
(2) Otherwise, by
adding any remedy authorized by Section 112A-14 which was:
(i) reserved in
that order of protection;
(ii) not
requested for inclusion in that order of protection; or
(iii) denied on
procedural grounds, but not on the merits.
(b) Upon motion by
petitioner or respondent, the court may modify any prior order of protection's
remedy for custody, visitation or payment of support in accordance with the
relevant provisions of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act .
(c) After 30 days
following the entry of a plenary order of protection, a court may modify that
order only when changes in the applicable law or facts since that plenary order
was entered warrant a modification of its terms.
(d) Upon 2 days notice
to petitioner, in accordance with Section 112A-11, or such shorter notice as
the court may prescribe, a respondent subject to an emergency or interim order
of protection issued under this Article may appear and petition the court to
re-hear the original or amended petition. Any petition to re-hear shall be
verified and shall allege the following:
(1) that respondent
did not receive prior notice of the initial hearing in which the emergency or
interim order was entered, in accordance with Sections 112A-11 and 112A-17; and
(2) that respondent
had a meritorious defense to the order or any of its remedies or that the order
or any of its remedies was not authorized under this Article.
(e) If the emergency or
interim order granted petitioner exclusive possession of the residence and the
petition of respondent seeks to re-open or vacate that grant, the court shall
set a date for hearing within 14 days on all issues relating to exclusive
possession. Under no circumstances shall a court continue a hearing concerning
exclusive possession beyond the 14th day except by agreement of the parties.
Other issues raised by the pleadings may be consolidated for the hearing if
neither party nor the court objects.
(f) This Section does
not limit the means, otherwise available by law, for vacating or modifying
orders of protection.
Immunity from Prosecution
(725 ILCS 5/112A-25)
Any individual or
organization acting in good faith to report the abuse of any person 60 years of
age or older or to do any of the following in complying with the provisions of
this Article shall not be subject to criminal prosecution or civil liability as
a result of such action: providing any information to the appropriate law
enforcement agency, providing that the giving of any information does not
violate any privilege of confidentiality under law; assisting in any
investigation; assisting in the preparation of any materials for distribution
under this Article; or by providing services ordered under an order of
protection.
Arrest
without warrant
(725 ILCS 5/112A-26)
(a) Any law enforcement
officer may make an arrest without warrant if the officer has probable cause to
believe that the person has committed or is committing any crime, including but
not limited to violation of an order of protection, under Section 12-30 of the
Criminal Code of 1961, even if the crime was not committed in the presence of
the officer.
(b) The law enforcement
officer may verify the existence of an order of protection by telephone or
radio communication with his or her law enforcement agency or by referring to
the copy of the order provided by petitioner or respondent.
Law enforcement policies
(725 ILCS 5/112A-27)
Every law enforcement
agency shall develop, adopt, and implement written policies regarding arrest
procedures for domestic violence incidents consistent with the provisions of
this Article. In developing these policies, each law enforcement agency is
encouraged to consult with community organizations and other law enforcement
agencies with expertise in recognizing and handling domestic violence
incidents.
Data maintenance by law enforcement agencies
(725 ILCS 5/112A-28)
(a) All sheriffs shall
furnish to the Department of State Police, daily, in the form and detail the
Department requires, copies of any recorded orders of protection issued by the
court, and any foreign orders of protection filed by the clerk of the court, and
transmitted to the sheriff by the clerk of the court pursuant to subsection (b)
of Section 112A-22 of this Act. Each order of protection shall be entered in
the Law Enforcement Automated Data System on the same day it is issued by the
court. If an emergency order of protection was issued in accordance with
subsection (c) of Section 112A-17, the order shall be entered in the Law
Enforcement Automated Data System as soon as possible after receipt from the
clerk.
(b) The Department of
State Police shall maintain a complete and systematic record and index of all
valid and recorded orders of protection issued or filed pursuant to this Act.
The data shall be used to inform all dispatchers and law enforcement officers
at the scene of an alleged incident of abuse or violation of an order of
protection of any recorded prior incident of abuse involving the abused party
and the effective dates and terms of any recorded order of protection.
(c) The data, records
and transmittals required under this Section shall pertain to any valid
emergency, interim or plenary order of protection, whether issued in a civil or
criminal proceeding or authorized under the laws of another state, tribe, or
United States territory.
Reports by law enforcement officers
(725 ILCS 5/112A-29)
(a) Every law
enforcement officer investigating an alleged incident of abuse between family
or household members shall make a written police report of any bona fide
allegation and the disposition of such investigation. The police report shall
include the victim's statements as to the frequency and severity of prior
incidents of abuse by the same family or household member and the number of
prior calls for police assistance to prevent such further abuse.
(b) Every police report
completed pursuant to this Section shall be recorded and compiled as a domestic
crime within the meaning of Section 5.1 of the Criminal Identification Act.
Assistance by law enforcement officers
(725 ILCS 5/112A-30)
(a) Whenever a law
enforcement officer has reason to believe that a person has been abused by a
family or household member, the officer shall immediately use all reasonable
means to prevent further abuse, including:
(1) Arresting the
abusing party, where appropriate;
(2) If there is
probable cause to believe that particular weapons were used to commit the
incident of abuse, subject to constitutional limitations, seizing and taking
inventory of the weapons;
(3) Accompanying
the victim of abuse to his or her place of residence for a reasonable period of
time to remove necessary personal belongings and possessions;
(4) Offering the
victim of abuse immediate and adequate information (written in a language
appropriate for the victim or in Braille or communicated in appropriate sign
language), which shall include a summary of the procedures and relief available
to victims of abuse under subsection (c) of Section 112A-17 and the officer's
name and badge number;
(5) Providing the
victim with one referral to an accessible service agency;
(6) Advising the
victim of abuse about seeking medical attention and preserving evidence
(specifically including photographs of injury or damage and damaged clothing or
other property); and
(7) Providing or
arranging accessible transportation for the victim of abuse (and, at the
victim's request, any minors or dependents in the victim's care) to a medical
facility for treatment of injuries or to a nearby place of shelter or safety;
or, after the close of court business hours, providing or arranging for
transportation for the victim (and, at the victim's request, any minors or
dependents in the victim's care) to the nearest available circuit judge or
associate judge so the victim may file a petition for an emergency order of
protection under subsection (c) of Section 112A-17. When a victim of abuse
chooses to leave the scene of the offense, it shall be presumed that it is in
the best interests of any minors or dependents in the victim's care to remain
with the victim or a person designated by the victim, rather than to remain
with the abusing party.
(b) Whenever a law
enforcement officer does not exercise arrest powers or otherwise initiate
criminal proceedings, the officer shall:
(1) Make a police
report of the investigation of any bona fide allegation of an incident of abuse
and the disposition of the investigation, in accordance with subsection (a) of
Section 112A-29;
(2) Inform the
victim of abuse of the victim's right to request that a criminal proceeding be
initiated where appropriate, including specific times and places for meeting
with the State's Attorney's office, a warrant officer, or other official in
accordance with local procedure; and
(3) Advise the
victim of the importance of seeking medical attention and preserving evidence
(specifically including photographs of injury or damage and damaged clothing or
other property).
(c) Except as provided
by Section 24-6 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or under a court order, any weapon
seized under subsection (a)(2) shall be returned forthwith to the person from
whom it was seized when it is no longer needed for evidentiary purposes.
Limited law enforcement liability
(725 ILCS 5/112A-31)
Any act of omission or
commission by any law enforcement officer acting in good faith in rendering
emergency assistance or otherwise enforcing this Article shall not impose civil
liability upon the law enforcement officer or his or her supervisor or
employer, unless the act is a result of willful or wanton misconduct.
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