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Health & Fitness

Kifowit-Sponsored Legislation to Protect Victims of Domestic Violence Passes House

AURORA, Ill. – Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, to protect victims of domestic violence was passed out of the Illinois House this week.  The new legislation allows GPS tracking of people charged with domestic violence or kidnapping-related crimes. 

 

“There have been far too many cases where those accused of domestic violence have been released on bail, only to cause additional harm towards their victims,” Kifowit said. “Placing suspects under electronic surveillance as a condition of their bail is a common sense way to provide victims an extra layer of security.”

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Right now, a judge can require people who violate an order of protection to wear a GPS tracking device. Kifowit is a co-sponsor of House Bill 3744, which gives judges the ability to require GPS tracking of people charged with domestic battery or kidnapping-related crimes as a condition of bail.  A judge can do so even if the accused has not violated an order of protection.  The violent crimes covered under this act include: felony domestic battery, aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery, kidnapping, aggravated kidnapping, unlawful restraint, aggravated unlawful restraint and attempted first degree murder.

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 “This measure will not only provide law enforcement agencies another tool in the fight against domestic abuse, but also supply an added layer of protection for victims who have to safeguard themselves and their families,” Kifowit said. “I will continue to push for stronger protection for the men and women who experience this horrific form of violence every year.”

 

For more information, please contact Rep. Kifowit’s constituent service office at 630-585-1308, email Stephanie.Kifowit@att.net, or visit www.ILDistrict84.com

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