State Senator Steve Stadelman has introduced Senate Bill 3044, targeting gaps in legal protection for survivors of domestic violence and stalking. The bill would ensure that emergency orders of protection remain valid until a final, or plenary, order is in place and served. Currently, survivors may be left without safeguards during this transition, a gap that prompted legislative action after a local constituent, Elizabeth Malone, shared her experience. Stadelman emphasized the urgent need for continuous protection, stating that the risk to victims escalates rapidly. The proposed measure is awaiting further progress in the Senate and could impact survivors statewide.
“This bill was inspired by a courageous constituent who came forward to share her story. Her experience underscores why we must constantly review our laws to ensure they truly protect those they are meant to serve,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This measure guarantees continued protections for victims and strengthens accountability for those who violate court orders.”
“After a long year of being harassed and threatened, I was granted a no-contact stalking order by a judge. I left the courtroom believing that I was going to be protected by that order,” said Elizabeth Malone, a resident of Winnebago County. “The most frightening part of this is not the harassment, it was realizing the system that I trusted to protect me and to protect others didn’t function the way that I thought and the way that it should. No one else should have to go through this and I’m sure that they have and that they are. Please help ensure that survivors and victims in Illinois are never again left vulnerable because of paperwork and gaps in procedure.”
“Domestic violence and stalking cases often escalate quickly,” said Stadelman. “We cannot afford gaps in enforcement – even for a single day.”