SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) – Every year, the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) investigates and tracks domestic violence cases in Illinois. In their 2023 Illinois Domestic Violence Homicide Report, ICADV found that the number of people killed as a result of domestic violence increased by 110% over 2022. According to Vicki Smith, former CEO and policy advocate for ICADV, this dramatic increase has never been seen before.
But Smith hopes the data, along with the Supreme Court decision in U.S. v. Rahimi, will help lead to statewide change.
“With the dramatic increase in homicides, we hope lawmakers understand the importance of this new tool to help reduce homicides, because domestic violence homicides are preventable if taken seriously,” Smith said.
She hopes the Illinois Legislature will pass Karina’s Bill, which would ban people under protective orders from possessing firearms. A 2023 report found that firearms were the cause of death in 68% of domestic violence-related homicides.
One of ICADV’s top priorities this year is to increase communication and information to the public. Smith said the more people know, the more likely they are to recognise domestic violence occurring.
“Domestic violence is not a term that’s used when you’re actually experiencing violence, but they might say, ‘You can’t do this or that,’ or ‘My phone is a surveillance device at all times and I have to be in a certain place at all times,'” Smith says. “It could be financial control, emotional control, threats and intimidation.”
If you are a victim of domestic violence or would like more information about resources in your area, please call the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline at (877) 863-6338.
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