Section 1100.15  Definitions

As used in this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, the term:

"Administrator" means the Illinois Attorney General.

"Advocacy" means supporting and promoting the interest of another person and providing education, information and referrals.

"Authorized official" means the person to whom the agency has granted the legal authority to submit grant proposals and enter into grant agreements, such as the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the State's Attorney or the Executive Director.

"Child" or "minor" means any person under 18 years of age.

"Children's Advocacy Center" means a center established pursuant to and in compliance with the Children's Advocacy Center Act.

"Counseling" means the provision of advice, guidance or instruction on the part of a knowledgeable person with the goal of meeting the specific needs of victims of violent crimes.

"Court advocacy" means accompaniment of the victim to criminal or civil court proceedings or administrative proceedings.

"Domestic violence" means abuse as defined in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986.

"Family" or "family member" means a spouse, former spouse, parent, child, sibling or stepparent.

"Forensic interview" means a fact-finding interview of a child performed by someone who is specially trained in techniques for interviewing children who may be victims of sexual or physical abuse.

"Non-offending" means a family member or significant other of a victim who is not alleged to have committed the violent crime against the victim.

"Grantee" or "grant recipient" means an agency that has been awarded a grant.

"Legal advocacy" means advocacy related to criminal, civil or administrative remedies for victims.

"Medical advocacy" means advocacy related to issues arising in a health care setting.

"Referral" means the process by which a person is directed to an agency, program or resource for further service, information or assistance.

"Senior" means any person 60 years of age or older.

"Sexual assault" means non-consensual sexual conduct or non-consensual sexual penetration as those terms are defined in Section 103 of the Civil No Contact Order Act.

"Sibling" means a brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, stepbrother or stepsister of the victim.

"Significant other" means any person who the victim perceives to be close to the victim and who has been affected by the violent crime.

"Social service advocacy" means advocacy related to securing services provided by local, state and federal agencies and programs.

"Therapy" means intensive, professional treatment by a licensed psychiatrist, licensed clinical psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, or licensed clinical professional counselor.

"Victim" means:

any person who has suffered direct physical, emotional or psychological harm as a result of the commission or attempted commission of a violent crime;

a family member of any person killed as a result of a crime of violence; or

a child against whom a violent crime has been perpetrated.

"Victim and witness assistance center" or "victim and witness assistance program" or "center" or "program" means an agency that provides one or more of the services set forth in Section 8 of the Violent Crime Victims Assistance Act to victims of violent crime and promotes one or more of the goals set forth in Section 2 of the Violent Crime Victims Assistance Act.

"Violent crime" means:

a crime of violence as defined in Section 2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act;

a violent crime as defined in Section 3 of the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act;

domestic violence;

sexual assault; and

neglect or abuse as defined in Section 2-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.

"Violent Crime Victims Assistance Act fund" or "fund" means the fund created by Section 10 of the Violent Crime Victims Assistance Act.

"Witness" means any person who personally observed the commission of a violent crime or who will be called to testify at a criminal court proceeding about a violent crime.