Orders of Protection
For All Survivors of Violent Crimes
- Stalking No Contact Orders → Stalking No Contact Order Act
- This act pertains to survivors of stalking, please click on the hyperlink to see how stalking is defined.
- A Stalking No Contact order can prohibit the stalking behavior and any contact with the survivor, and prohibit firearm purchasing, possession, or access.
- Legal Monetary Remedies
- In addition to remedies available through legislation, individuals who have experienced violent crime have certain rights and in most cases can file civil actions in court to get damages and remedies for the violation of those rights.
For Survivors of Domestic Violence and Family Violence
- Protective Orders → Illinois Domestic Violence Act
- An individual who has experienced domestic violence or one of their household or family members can file for an order of protection. They can petition the court for an emergency order or plenary order. An emergency order may be granted even if the person who the order is against never responds to the petition and lasts for at least 14 days to at most 21 days. A plenary order may be granted but only if the person who the order is against responds and appears in Court. A plenary order lasts for a fixed period of time, but not more than 2 years.
- An Order of Protection may involve prohibition of any contact, access to counseling, parentage and custody arrangements to protect children, financial support, and prohibit firearm purchasing, possession, or access.
For Survivors of Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking
- No Contact Orders → Civil No Contact Order Act
- An individual who has experienced sexual assault can petition for a Civil no Contact Order. They can petition the court for an emergency order or plenary order. The length and conditions of the emergency v. plenary order are the same as orders of protection.
- A Civil No Contact Order typically includes a robust prohibition of any form of contact or communication.
Review Your Rights
As a survivor of violence in Illinois, these are your rights on both a state and federal level.
What Do You Need?
As a survivor of violence in Illinois, you may be eligible for support with financial needs, housing, medical costs, mental health services, funeral or burial costs, relocation costs, and more. Based on what happened to you, you may be eligible for different services and supports. Click here to see which policies can provide access to these supports.
Eligibility and Access
Policies outlining rights and services afforded to crime victims often involve definitions of who is considered a victim and what they must do to access services. Read through this section to better understand how to navigate policies intended to support survivors.
Illinois Policies
Here you can find a complete listing of Illinois policies related to services or supports available to crime victims. Each of these policies that enables access to services has eligibility requirements. Please use the hyperlinks available to review the eligibility requirements.