NCJ Number
101165
Date Published
1985
Length
79 pages
Annotation
A centralized court and trained advocates have facilitated the implementation of Illinois' Domestic Violence Act (IDVA).
Abstract
Enacted March 1, 1982, IDVA provides comprehensive legal intervention for domestic assault cases. It expands the civil protections and criminal penalties available for victims, with particular attention to protection orders as temporary, preliminary, and final remedies in these cases. In an effort to facilitate the implementation of IDVA, the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network promoted a plan to establish a centralized Cook County court to hear all domestic violence cases. This was intended to provide greater court efficiency and to concentrate victim advocates in a single court. It also allowed data collection on victims and their experiences in criminal court proceedings. Data were obtained from case tracking forms completed by court advocates on cases heard from January 1984 to August 1984 (800). Eleven advocates were trained. Data were analyzed on 289 cases, using descriptive statistics and chi square analysis on all variables and relationships deemed relevant to research questions. Data encompassed victim and accused characteristics, the nature and history of the abuse, and the system's response to cases heard in the centralized court. Overall, the court operated efficiently and provided victim support. Police apparently are attempting to enforce the new law, and police arrests facilitate convictions. Protection orders were common dispositions. The IDVA is appended. Tabular data, recommendations, and 26-item bibliography.