Illinois
Illinois domestic violence deaths increased 110% in 2023, report shows
CHICAGO (WLS) — A staggering number of people are losing their lives to domestic violence.
The number has more than doubled in Illinois in 2023, according to one advocacy group.
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The revelation is now leading to more support for stricter laws to protect survivors.
Normally the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence doesn’t release their annual report until October, but when they noticed that domestic violence homicides increased by 110% in 2023, they told ABC7 they had to take those numbers public.
“This is such a dramatic increase, we felt like we couldn’t wait until October,” said Vickie Smith, the former CEO of the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Smith said the spike in the state’s domestic violence-related deaths is cause for concern.
“When a person begins to take steps related to their safety… that increases the danger that the violence will increase,” Smith said.
SEE ALSO | Illinois domestic violence hotline calls increase 90% compared to pre-pandemic levels
“The two to three days after someone gets a protective order is an incredibly dangerous time,” said Amy Milligan, Director of Domestic Violence Services at Metropolitan Family Services.
Milligan is urging legislators to pass “Karina’s Bill.” The bill was named after Karina Gonzalez and her 15-year-old daughter, who were shot and killed in Little Village after filing for an order of protection from her husband.
“We’re sitting here and debating this bill while families and women and children are dying,” Metropolitan Family Services attorney Loren Gutierrez.
“Karina’s Bill” would require law enforcement to remove a firearm from a home when a survivor is granted an order of protection. It’s something the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence believes can make a difference, especially after the coalition found there were 94 incidents of domestic violence that led to 120 deaths in 2023. Data shows the presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%.
“Domestic violence is something that effects every community no matter your race, your socioeconomic status,” Gutierrez said.
MFS said the community can help take pressure off of survivors by believing victims if they come forward, being aware of services within your neighborhood and helping them find a safe place to make phone calls or have conversations on getting help.
“If we can do something to stop that, we need to,” Gutierrez said.
If you or someone you know is in need of support, you are urged to call the domestic violence hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE, or 1-800-799-7233.
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The Chicago Bears released a statement on Wednesday after Illinois legislators took a step forward with keeping the team in the state.
Shortly after the bill passed out of a House committee 15-5 and then was passed again by the full House, the Bears said the bill is not enough for them.
“We welcome the progress made on the House’s version of the mega project bill; however, additional amendments are necessary to make the Arlington Heights site feasible for our stadium project. We support Illinois leaders as they determine the path forward to making the essential changes to the mega project bill and aligning on infrastructure funding,” the team said in a statement.
The vote on Wednesday came after lawmakers spent weeks working to address concerns and criticism that the bill provided incentives to the team to leave Chicago and surrounding potential revenue shortfalls to area schools if the stadium is built in Arlington Heights.
Despite the team’s dissatisfaction, the megaprojects bill, which would allow the Bears to negotiate property tax payments directly with the Village of Arlington Heights, is headed now to the Senate.
A key piece of legislation designed to keep the Chicago Bears’ stadium project in Illinois is being weighed, and Rose Schmidt has details on what’s in it.
That said, the bill’s lead Senate sponsor State Sen. Bill Cunningham told NBC Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern that legislators “feel no pressure to take a vote next week” when the Senate returns on Tuesday.
“We will work this bill like any other bill,” Cunningham said.
Though the team is not satisfied with the deal, it seems Illinois Governor Pritzker is.
“Governor Pritzker has been clear and consistent for years that the Bears should remain in Illinois, and that any legislation needs to protect taxpayers. Throughout the past few months, the Governor’s Office brought team leadership, local officials, and legislative partners to the table to craft a deal around public infrastructure improvements, property tax fairness, and affordability measures. Today is an important step, and the Governor’s Office looks forward to working with the Illinois General Assembly to advance a bill that reflects our shared priorities,” Pritzker’s office said in a statement on Wednesday.
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