Plan requiring trauma-informed training for police handling sexual assault cases arrives on Pritzker's desk

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Legislation on Gov. JB Pritzker's desk could require trauma-informed response training for law enforcement handling sexual assault cases.

This plan would require the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board to teach police officers how to identify conflicts of interest and options to address those conflicts when officers know a sexual assault victim or the abuser.

Sen. Mary Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville) said law enforcement must use the utmost care when survivors come forward to report their abuse. She filed the legislation after hearing about a negative experience a constituent went through.

Advocate Anna Williams told lawmakers this spring that the detective working her sexual assault case lied on statements and the situation was brushed off by the police chief. Williams was also frequently asked by officers if she was sure it was not consensual.

"If we pass the bill, it will help survivors heal from the assault," Williams said. "Then it gives them a fighting chance. It will validate their experiences."

Williams told lawmakers over 60% of sexual assaults go unreported due to the fear of re-traumatization and victim blaming.

Senate Bill 1195 passed unanimously out of the House and Senate this spring. The measure will be named Anna's Law if Pritzker signs the plan.