The Illinois Domestic Violence Act allows victims to request an order of protection. A judge can offer anyone who has experienced abuse by a family or household member an emergency or long-term protective order. Individuals who can be protected by a court order include children, former spouses, parents, current spouses, stepchildren, boyfriend, girlfriends, fiancés and individuals who share a dwelling with the offender.
There are a variety of factors that courts consider when deciding whether or not to grant a protection order, which includes the following:
- The consequences, frequency, nature, and severity of the abuse.
- The danger that a child will be abused, neglected, or removed from Illinois.
- The likelihood or risk of future abuse.