Published: June 25, 2008 03:23 pm            

Bill calls for surveillance in order-of-protection cases

By GARY FORBY

Illinois state senator

Several times throughout the past legislative session in Springfield, I discussed matters of public safety and consumer protection in my column.

Last year, I fought hard to make sure consumers were not taken advantage of by powerful utility companies who were pushing to greatly raise electric rates. This session brought many new challenges.

I sponsored legislation this past session to curb violence in the home; to protect our children and adults from sexual predators on the streets and in the workplace; and to ensure safe homes for children. All of these pieces of legislation had the ultimate goal of bringing about safer communities.

One bill involving such important matters is Senate Bill 2719 — the Cindy Bischof Law.

SB 2719, which I sponsored and helped to pass in the Senate, aims to fight the growing problem of domestic violence in America. According to the Family Violence Prevention Fund, estimates range from as many as just under 1 million to 3 million women alone who are being physically abused by their boyfriends or husbands. Another 800,000 men were also affected in recent years, according to the Commission on Domestic Violence.

Over the last 15 years, domestic violence reports and filings have continued to increase drastically. Sadly, many of the women, children and even men are too scared to report these instances. SB 2719 addresses that concern.

SB 2719 creates the Domestic Violence Surveillance Program, requiring the electronic surveillance of persons convicted of violating orders of protection. The bill also allows for the electronic surveillance of those who are subject to orders of protection.

This bill was brought forth as a response to the March 7, 2008, killing of Cindy Bischof. According to published reports, Ms. Bischof was killed by her former boyfriend, who later killed himself.

Even though Ms. Bischof had an order of protection against her boyfriend, it was not enough to stop this tragic incident.

For eight months, Ms. Bischof had endured continued harassment from her former boyfriend, who had been arrested several times for violating the order of protection against him in the period prior to the murder-suicide.

When signed by the governor, this important piece of legislation should provide peace of mind to those victims of domestic violence and others who are now otherwise forced to live their lives in fear.

• Gary Forby is an Illinois state senator in the 59th District, which includes part of Hamilton County.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.