The Crime Victim Compensation Act was established by the Illinois General Assembly in 1973 with the primary goal of helping to reduce the financial burden imposed on victims of violent crime and their families. Learn more and apply here: https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/victims/cvc.html
Illinois Sexual Assault
and Domestic Violence Resources
Crime Victim Compensation
Illinois VINE System
The Illinois VINE System (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) provides victims with a website or toll-free number they can access for up-to-date information on the custody and/or case status of an offender. https://www.vinelink.com/#state-selection
Illinois Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights
The Illinois Constitution and Illinois statutes provide that victims of crime have certain rights. https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/victims/bill_of_rights_poster.pdf
Illinois Orders of Protection and No Contact Orders
Illinois Address Confidentiality Program
Provides survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and their household members with a substitute address to use as their home, school, and work addresses, instead of the actual addresses. The ACP Substitute Address helps prevent perpetrators from locating survivors. To apply to participate in the Illinois Address Confidentiality Program, please complete the Online ACP Application.
Illinois Domestic Violence Victim Act Information
The Sexual Assault Incident Procedure Act
The Sexual Assault Incident Procedure Act contains new requirements for law enforcement authorities and hospitals to improve their response to sexual assault victims.
https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/victims/improvingresponsetosa_il.html
Safe Homes Act
This law gives you or anyone in your household who is victim or domestic or sexual violence the right to end your lease and/or change locks.
https://www.povertylaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/English-SHA-Brochure_Updated_FINAL-2-1.pdf
Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA)
Allows employees who are victims of domestic or sexual violence or who have family or household members who are victims of such violence to take up to twelve (12) weeks of unpaid leave per any twelve (12) month period to seek medical help, legal assistance, counseling, safety planning, and other assistance. The Act also prohibits employers from discriminating against employees who are victims of domestic or sexual violence or who have family or household members who are victims of domestic or sexual violence.
https://www2.illinois.gov/idol/Laws-Rules/CONMED/Pages/vessa.aspx
Legal Services
Illinois Legal Aid: https://www.illinoislegalaid.org
Prairie State Legal Services: https://www.pslegal.org