SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Every year, the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) researches and tracks domestic violence cases in Illinois. In their 2023 Illinois Domestic Violence Homicide Report, the ICADV found the number of people who died due to domestic violence increased by 110% from 2022. This dramatic jump has never happened before, according to Vicki Smith, retired CEO and policy support for the ICADV.
But Smith hopes this data and the Supreme Court ruling of United States vs. Rahimi case will help make statewide changes.
"We hope this dramatic increase in homicides will be able to get legislators to understand the importance of this new tool that can help us reduce those homicides, because domestic violence homicides are preventable if we take them seriously," said Smith.
She is hoping Illinois legislators will pass Karina's Bill which prohibits people with protection orders against them from possessing firearms. The 2023 report shows that firearms were the means of death in 68% of domestic violence related homicides.
One of ICADV's top priorities for this year is to increase communication and information given to the public. Smith said the more people know, the more likely they will be to recognize when domestic violence is occurring.
"The words domestic violence aren't something that people use when they are experiencing it, but they may say 'I'm not allowed to do this or that' or 'my phone is a constant monitoring device where I have to be where I am supposed to be in every time frame," said Smith. "It can be financial control, emotional control, threats and intimidation,"
If you are a victim of Domestic Violence or would like more information on resources in your area, you can call the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline at (877) 863-6338.
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