(750 ILCS 60/102) (from Ch. 40, par. 2311-2)
Sec. 102.
Purposes; rules of construction.
This Act shall be
liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes, which are
to:
(1) Recognize domestic violence as a serious crime against the
individual and society which produces family disharmony in thousands of
Illinois families,
promotes a pattern of escalating violence which frequently culminates in
intra-family homicide, and creates an emotional atmosphere that is not
conducive to healthy childhood development;
(2) Recognize domestic violence against high risk adults with
disabilities, who are particularly vulnerable due to impairments in ability
to seek or obtain protection, as a serious problem which takes on many
forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and exploitation,
and facilitate accessibility of remedies under the Act in order to provide
immediate and effective assistance and protection.
(3) Recognize that the legal system has
ineffectively dealt with family violence in the past, allowing abusers to
escape effective prosecution or financial liability, and has not adequately
acknowledged the criminal nature of domestic violence;
that, although many laws have changed, in practice there is
still widespread failure to appropriately protect and assist victims;
(4) Support the efforts of victims of domestic violence to avoid further
abuse by promptly entering and diligently enforcing court orders which
prohibit abuse and, when necessary, reduce the abuser's access to the
victim and
address any related issues of child custody and economic
support, so that victims are not trapped in abusive situations by fear of
retaliation, loss of a child, financial dependence, or loss of
accessible housing or services;
(5) Clarify the responsibilities and support the efforts of law
enforcement officers to provide immediate, effective assistance and
protection for victims of domestic violence, recognizing that law
enforcement officers often
become the secondary victims of domestic violence, as evidenced by the high
rates of police injuries and deaths that occur in response to domestic violence
calls; and
(6) Expand the civil and criminal remedies for victims of domestic
violence; including, when necessary, the remedies which effect physical
separation of the parties to prevent further abuse.
(Source: P.A. 86-542; 87-1186.)
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