CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - While many laws are permanent, some come with limits.
It isn't the first time the Violence Against Women Act was up for "renewal". Basically, the grants that fund many grassroots organizations to help women - and enforce penalties against criminals - are up in the air. One group, Courage Connection, benefits from the act.Â
In Champaign-Urbana, Courage Connection supports hundreds of survivors of many kinds of abuse from many backgrounds. Brice Decker works with victims in rural areas of Champaign County and other counties.Â
"Anybody has the potential to become a victim of domestic abuse," Decker said. "We can go under certain populations of women and children are suffering from domestic abuse."Â
Courage Connection's services include: counseling, appearing in court to support victims and aiding them in getting restraining orders against abusers. They're able to help others because of the funding provided by the Violence Against Women Act. VAWA was passed in 1994; it was supposed to crack down on domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. At last check, it was reauthorized in 2013, during the Obama administration.Â
The way the act is written, it must be renewed every five years. Illinois Democratic leaders hope to see that happen. Illinois' Democratic spokesperson said the act's reauthorization is scheduled before Oct. 1.Â
"Don't let it slip of the books," Illinois' Democratic spokesperson Steven Brown said. "We want to be careful and make sure it doesn't slip away from us."Â
To Brice, reauthorization would help him and many of his clients in the long run.Â
"[Reauthorization] helps people with more opportunity to escape the violence and live their lives peacefully," Brown said.Â
Domestic Violence is a crime. This includes when someone who hits, threatens or harasses with a person's liberty of another. The Domestic Violence help line is 1-877-863-6338.Â
