IL House committee passes bill to require more police training when handling sexual assault cases

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A Democratic plan at the state level would add trauma-informed response training for law enforcement.

The training would be during the probationary period of an officer's training, where they'll learn how to appropriately handle sexual assault cases when the officer knows either the victim or abuser.

If passed, the law would be named after Anna Williams. Williams said she dealt with ridicule and mistrust when she came forward with her experience of being sexually assaulted.

"The detective working my case lied on my statements, and it was brushed off when I mentioned it to the chief. I was frequently asked if I was sure that it was not consensual," Williams said. "If we pass the bill, it will help survivors heal from the assault, and then it gives them a fighting chance. It will validate their experiences."

The plan received some concerns from GOP members with ties to law enforcement. They said adding more training could be a burden on new officers.

This proposal passed the House judicial criminal committee on a unanimous 15-0 vote. It will now head to the House floor, where lawmakers could talk about it in the coming weeks.