Nobody ever thinks that they will become a victim of domestic violence until it happens to them. Unfortunately, domestic violence happens much more frequently than you may expect. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, more than 10 million people in the United States are victims of domestic violence each year. In 2019, there were 193,800 domestic violence calls made to the Chicago Police Department alone, along with 24,400 calls made to the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline, according to data from The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence, an organization dedicated to helping victims of domestic abuse. Many victims of domestic violence never seek help, but the ones who do have options available to keep themselves and their families safe. One widely used method is petitioning for an order of protection from the abuser.
What is an Order of Protection?
An order of protection is a legal order used in domestic violence cases that requires an alleged abuser to do certain things or prohibits them from doing certain things. Orders of protection can be issued in response to a variety of actions on the part of a family or household member, including physical abuse, harassment, intimidation, interference with personal liberty, or willful deprivation. Orders of protection exist to provide protection and other solutions designed to help victims.
Potential Remedies in an Order of Protection
When an order of protection is filed, you can request certain remedies to be included in the order. Remedies can vary in subject matter, but some of the most common remedies used include: