28-05-2025
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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
