Latest news with #Anna'sLaw
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Illinois law to require police take sexual assault sensitivity training
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — A bill that would require police officers to take training on sexual assault sensitivity is headed to the governor's desk to become law. 'Anna's Law' passed the state House and Senate unanimously. The bill is named after 23-year-old Anna Williams, who struggled to get police to take reports of her sexual assault seriously. Currently, police officers in Illinois are required to take tracking on 'Cultural Perception' and 'Common Myths on Sexual Assault and Abuse.' Anna's Law would require law enforcement officers to take training on how to identify sexual abuse, and how to address conflicts of interest, such as when an officer knows either the victims or the alleged perpetrators. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Anna's Law aims to protect victims from re-traumatization
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WGN) — A bill requiring additional training for police handling sexual assault cases is one Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signature away from becoming law. WTVO-TV, WGN's sister station, reports that the bill, called Anna's Law, would amend the Illinois Police Training Act to require the additional training while an officer is in their probationary period, to learn how to handle cases in which the officer knows either the victim or the abuser. The bill is for Anna Williams, who says police did not listen to or believe her when she filed a sexual assault report. The training would help law enforcement officials avoid re-traumatizing a victim and instead promote best practices for sensitively handling cases. Sponsored by Illinois State Senator Mary Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville), Anna's Law, Senate Bill 1195, aims to minimize the trauma experienced by victims by providing training programs for officers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Illinois lawmakers advance bill requiring police training to minimize trauma for sexual assault victims
Illinois lawmakers on Thursday advanced legislation requiring increased police training on sexual assault cases that would include practices 'meant to minimize traumatization of the victim.' The training required by the legislation, now heading to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk, would also focus on identifying and addressing conflicts of interest when officers involved in the case are familiar with the victim or accused. The 'trauma-informed' training is intended to promote handling people involved in sexual assault cases in a sensitive way, said state Sen. Mary Edly-Allen, the bill's sponsor and a Democrat from Libertyville. The bill was dubbed 'Anna's Law' because it was championed by an Illinois resident, Anna Williams, who told state lawmakers that she was unfairly overlooked by law enforcement when she filed a sexual assault report. 'The detective working my case lied on my statements, and it was brushed off when I mentioned it to the chief,' Williams said at a late April legislative hearing. 'I was frequently asked if I was sure that it was not consensual. If we pass the bill, it will help survivors heal from the assault, and then it gives them a fighting chance. It will validate their experiences.' An initial version of the bill was met with opposition in part due to a provision penalizing officers if they did not complete the training, Edly-Allen said. Law enforcement officials also wanted the training to be administered by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, instead of the state Department of Human Services as initially written, she said. 'Personally, I did not want anything punitive,' Edly-Allen said. 'It's about when you know better, you do better, just understanding that we all experience life differently.' The Illinois Sheriffs' Association initially filed in opposition of the legislation, but said Thursday they switched their position to neutral after the bill was amended in the Senate. Proponents of the legislation also include the Illinois National Organization for Women, Illinois Collaboration on Youth, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence. 'The passage of Anna's Law is another step in the direction of ensuring our law enforcement responses to sexual and domestic violence are survivor-centered and trauma-informed,' said Maralea Negron, director of policy, advocacy and research at The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence. 'Addressing conflicts of interest in law enforcement responses will directly support survivors who hesitate to report because of these associated risks.' Edly-Allen credited Williams with pushing her to champion the legislation. 'I actually was a little nervous carrying the bill originally, but her determination and her unwavering bravery to say 'No, this is wrong, we need to change it,' empowered me,' Edly-Allen said. 'She empowered me to do this legislation.' _____
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State lawmakers advance bill requiring police training to minimize trauma for sexual assault victims
Illinois lawmakers on Thursday advanced legislation requiring increased police training on sexual assault cases that would include practices 'meant to minimize traumatization of the victim.' The training required by the legislation, now heading to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk, would also focus on identifying and addressing conflicts of interest when officers involved in the case are familiar with the victim or accused. The 'trauma-informed' training is intended to promote handling people involved in sexual assault cases in a sensitive way, said state Sen. Mary Edly-Allen, the bill's sponsor and a Democrat from Libertyville. The bill was dubbed 'Anna's Law' because it was championed by an Illinois resident, Anna Williams, who told state lawmakers that she was unfairly overlooked by law enforcement when she filed a sexual assault report. 'The detective working my case lied on my statements, and it was brushed off when I mentioned it to the chief,' Williams said at a late April legislative hearing. 'I was frequently asked if I was sure that it was not consensual. If we pass the bill, it will help survivors heal from the assault, and then it gives them a fighting chance. It will validate their experiences.' An initial version of the bill was met with opposition in part due to a provision penalizing officers if they did not complete the training, Edly-Allen said. Law enforcement officials also wanted the training to be administered by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, instead of the state Department of Human Services as initially written, she said. 'Personally, I did not want anything punitive,' Edly-Allen said. 'It's about when you know better, you do better, just understanding that we all experience life differently.' The Illinois Sheriffs' Association initially filed in opposition of the legislation, but said Thursday they switched their position to neutral after the bill was amended in the Senate. Proponents of the legislation also include the Illinois National Organization for Women, Illinois Collaboration on Youth, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence. 'The passage of Anna's Law is another step in the direction of ensuring our law enforcement responses to sexual and domestic violence are survivor-centered and trauma-informed,' said Maralea Negron, director of policy, advocacy and research at The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence. 'Addressing conflicts of interest in law enforcement responses will directly support survivors who hesitate to report because of these associated risks.' Edly-Allen credited Williams with pushing her to champion the legislation. 'I actually was a little nervous carrying the bill originally, but her determination and her unwavering bravery to say 'No, this is wrong, we need to change it,' empowered me,' Edly-Allen said. 'She empowered me to do this legislation.'
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
State lawmakers advance bill requiring training to minimize trauma for sexual assault victims
Illinois lawmakers on Thursday advanced legislation requiring increased police training on sexual assault cases that would include practices 'meant to minimize traumatization of the victim.' The training required by the legislation, now heading to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk, would also focus on identifying and addressing conflicts of interest when officers involved in the case are familiar with the victim or accused. The 'trauma-informed' training is intended to promote handling people involved in sexual assault cases in a sensitive way, said state Sen. Mary Edly-Allen, the bill's sponsor and a Democrat from Libertyville. The bill was dubbed 'Anna's Law' because it was championed by an Illinois resident, Anna Williams, who told state lawmakers that she was unfairly overlooked by law enforcement when she filed a sexual assault report. 'The detective working my case lied on my statements, and it was brushed off when I mentioned it to the chief,' Williams said at a late April legislative hearing. 'I was frequently asked if I was sure that it was not consensual. If we pass the bill, it will help survivors heal from the assault, and then it gives them a fighting chance. It will validate their experiences.' An initial version of the bill was met with opposition in part due to a provision penalizing officers if they did not complete the training, Edly-Allen said. Law enforcement officials also wanted the training to be administered by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, instead of the state Department of Human Services as initially written, she said. 'Personally, I did not want anything punitive,' Edly-Allen said. 'It's about when you know better, you do better, just understanding that we all experience life differently.' The Illinois Sheriffs' Association initially filed in opposition of the legislation, but said Thursday they switched their position to neutral after the bill was amended in the Senate. Proponents of the legislation also include the Illinois National Organization for Women, Illinois Collaboration on Youth, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence. 'The passage of Anna's Law is another step in the direction of ensuring our law enforcement responses to sexual and domestic violence are survivor-centered and trauma-informed,' said Maralea Negron, director of policy, advocacy and research at The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence. 'Addressing conflicts of interest in law enforcement responses will directly support survivors who hesitate to report because of these associated risks.' Edly-Allen credited Williams with pushing her to champion the legislation. 'I actually was a little nervous carrying the bill originally, but her determination and her unwavering bravery to say 'No, this is wrong, we need to change it,' empowered me,' Edly-Allen said. 'She empowered me to do this legislation.'
