(Ref: Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, 750 ILCS 60/101, Illinois Revised Statutes, Chapter 40, 2311-1 et seq. 727 ILCS 5/112A, and Chapter 38, Section 112A-1 et seq.)
Some Facts About Domestic Violence
Myths and Realities How to Get Help You Don't Have to be a Victim
Order of Protection Contacts
Domestic violence is increasingly becoming a major problem in the United States. As the divorce rate climbs, the true victims of these acts are our children. What we are teaching them is that this is the way it is, and that it is ok to act like their parents. It presents a very bad image of the American family, and prompts our children to develop attitudes that are not conducive to the standard rules of conduct. We therefore have many children with behavioral problems, and as a result, the educational systems bear the brunt of all the confusion and anxiety of these troubled children. The law can do only so much to stem the immediate problems, but research and counseling seem to be the key to checking domestic discord. We owe our children a good environment at the very least. They are constantly influenced by violent behavior through the media in the form of movies, gang violence, video games, and news articles. A lot of kids can't distinguish fantasy from reality because there is no one to teach them the difference. Parents are supposed to fill the gap here, but this resource disappears when the parents themselves are not quite sure of the difference due to their own problems. Getting along shouldn't be that hard.
Some Facts about Domestic Violence: (Excerpts from The Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence; A Handbook For Domestic Violence Victims.)
Wife beating is the most common but least
reported crime in the United States.
Over 40% of women murdered in this country are killed by husbands
or lovers, usually after having been beaten by those men for
years.
Up to one-half of all wives are beaten at least once by their
husbands.
Woman abuse happens in all classes and races. It occurs at every
level of income and education.
Violence in the home usually becomes more frequent and more severe
over time. Children who grow up in violent homes come to believe that violence
is normal. They come to believe that it is an acceptable way to control someone
else. The majority of adult violent prisoners were raised in violent
homes.
Violence is often a pattern of threats, insults, insane jealousy,
explosive temper, and attempts to isolate and overpower the woman.
Myth: A man's home is his castle. No one should interfere with the family.
Reality: Battery is a crime! No one has the right to beat another person. It is your home, too. You have the right to a life free from fear and physical abuse.
Myth: A woman who gets beaten brings it upon herself by nagging or provoking her spouse.
Reality: Women are abused for reasons as ridiculous as: the dinner was cold; the TV was turned to the wrong channel; the baby was crying. The fact is that abusive men refuse to control their violent impulses. Even where the man may have reason to be angry, he has no right to express his anger violently. You are not responsible for his violent behavior !
Myth: A woman who stays with her boyfriend or husband after being beaten must like to be beaten.
Reality: Being beaten hurts and no one likes it. There are many reasons why women remain with abusive men, including their fear of further violence, the financial hardships of leaving, their emotional attachment to their partners, and their belief that families should stay together.
Myth: Calling the police will automatically result in jail and loss of employment for the abuser.
Reality: Unless the violence is extremely serious, the abuser is unlikely to spend more than a few hours in jail. It is usually the victim's decision whether to have him arrested in the first place. Also, studies have found that some men will stop their violent behavior after being arrested.
…There is a new law, called the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, which is designed to protect and assist domestic violence victims. It creates a new legal remedy, called an "order of protection", which is obtainable in either criminal or civil court. The law also states what law enforcement officers must do to help and protect victims.
…The new Illinois Domestic Violence Act (IDVA) recognizes domestic violence as a serious crime. It creates a new legal remedy for domestic violence victims called an Order of Protection, and requires that law enforcement officers provide specific types of assistance to victims.
You Don't Have To Be A Victim:
Today, women are not the only victims of domestic violence. Men are susceptible to violent acts from women. This is being seen and recorded more and more, but males are still dominant in domestic violence. The fact remains that domestic violence is becoming less and less tolerable by the law, and legislators have taken steps to deter this behavior. If you are the victim of a violent relationship, you don't have to be! Here is one solution to help save yourself from the perils of domestic violence.
What is it?
An order of protection is a written court order ,signed by a judge, which requires an abusive household or family member to do or not do certain things. The judge can order any or all of the following ten different remedies:
*1) Forbid any further abuse
*2) Order the abuser not to enter the shared home for a period of time (this is often called a vacate order or an exclusive possession order).
3) Award temporary child custody and establish visitation rights.
4) Prohibit child snatching and require the abuser to appear in court with the children.
5) Require or recommend counseling for the abuser.
6) Prohibit the abuser from taking, transferring or destroying the victim's property.
7) Require the abuser to pay temporary support to the victim.
8) Require to pay the victim any money lost due to the abuse (medical expenses, lost wages, etc.)
9) Order the abuser to pay the victim's court costs and attorney's fees.
10)Order other relief as needed.
SPECIAL NOTE: Although we are confident the information in this documentation is up to date and correct, we strongly urge you to consult with your attorney if you have one, or contact the State's Attorney's office in the county in which you live, or at least consult with your local law enforcement agency. This is only a starting point we are providing to get you going in the right direction.
Agencies close to Island Lake:
Lake County
Waukegan, IL - A Safe Place Hotline (847) 249-4450
Connections (847) 689-1080
(Crisis info/24 hrs) (847) 689-0394
Connections (Student Hotline) 1-800-310-1234
Navy Base Family Advocacy Center (847) 688-3603
McHenry County
Woodstock, IL - Turning Point (815) 338-8081
W.A.V.E.S. Women's shelter (815) 962-6102
Community Crisis Center (815) 697-2380
McHenry County Crisis Line 1-800-892-8900
You can also view info on the web at:
NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE
* Assault: Placing another in reasonable fear of
receiving a battery.
* Battery: Causing another
bodily harm, or touching them in an insulting or provoking nature, without legal
justification.
