DuPage County Unveils New Initiative Aimed at Helping Victims of Domestic Violence

Bob Berlin, members of the Family Violence Coordinating Conference, first responders, and domestic violence advocates announced a new initiative to better assist victims of domestic violence.

“ANY ASSISTANCE WE CAN PROVIDE HOWEVER, IS OF NO CONSEQUENCE IF THE VICTIM IS NOT AWARE OF THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM,” BERLIN SAID. “THIS NEW INITIATIVE WILL PROVIDE THOSE IN NEED WITH discreet, EASY ACCESS TO INFORMATION REGARDING VICTIMS’ RIGHTS, ORDERS OF PROTECTION, ASSISTANCE FINDING SHELTER, CRISIS SERVICES AND COUNSELING.”

WHEATON - Today, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin, the Honorable Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh, Presiding Judge of Specialty and Juvenile Courts Division and Diana Hightower, Coordinator of the DuPage Family Violence Coordinating Council unveiled the implementation of a new initiative that will better assist victims of domestic violence in accessing the resources available to them in a safe and discreet manner.

Judge Ann Celine Walsh and Bob Berlin.

Currently, when a law enforcement officer is called to a domestic incident, the officer will provide the victim with a “tear sheet”, which is a list of agencies and other resources that are available to help victims get the assistance they need. Today’s newly unveiled initiative, created by the Family Violence Coordinating Council and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, will supplement the old “tear sheets” with a new QR code, which can be scanned and saved directly to the victim’s cellular phone. Once downloaded, the QR code will not only provide victims with critical information and available resources, but will also do so in a safe, secure and discreet manner. After scanning the QR code, users will be directed to an alternate website from which they can then safely navigate to direct links to many valuable resources including: the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, YWCA, Family Shelter Services, DCFS, DuPage County Resources System, DuPage County Family Center and DuPage County Legal Aid, among others. In addition, users can also access links to Adult Protective Services and Juvenile related resources.

“It is our responsibility to provide the victims of domestic violence our full support, compassion and protection,” Berlin said. “Any assistance we can provide however, is of no consequence if the victim is not aware of the resources available to them. This new initiative will provide those in need with discreet, easy access to information regarding victims’ rights, orders of protection, assistance finding shelter, crisis services and counseling. I am confident that this new program will go a long way in improving the lives of domestic violence victims and their families.”

“The cooperative efforts exhibited by all those involved in the creation of this initiative demonstrates our collective commitment to the safety as well as the physical and emotional well-being of victims of domestic violence,” DuPage County Chief Judge Kenneth Popejoy remarked. “Through hard work and a creative, resourceful use of technology, victims of domestic violence are now in a much better position to access valuable resources in a discreet manner. I commend everyone who worked on this initiative, particularly Diana Hightower of the Family Violence Coordinating Council for her efforts in marshalling the time and talents of our partners who saw this project through.”

Officers will receive information and instructions on how to implement this new initiative in the coming weeks through a training video featuring State’s Attorney Berlin and Judge Walsh. The training video, which was produced by the DuPage County Health Department, will provide officers with a demonstration of the new QR code in action as well as specific instructions on how to get the information contained within to victims of domestic violence.

“I thank the numerous individuals and agencies that have given so much of their time and energy to making this new QR code undertaking a reality,” Hightower added. “Their motivation and commitment have been truly inspiring.”

Other attendees at today’s announcement include the Honorable Kenneth L. Popejoy, DuPage County Chief Judge; DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick; Norma Peterson, Executive Director of Document the Abuse/Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit; Nicole Ousley, Manager at Advocacy and Crisis Intervention/Sexual Violence Support Services – YWCA Metropolitan Chicago; Heather Jamison, Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Program Supervisor for Family Shelter Service of Metropolitan Family Services DuPage; Christine Call, Center for Advancement of Domestic Peace; Geri Kerger, Director of NAMI; ShaTonya Herring, Adult Protective Services; Brian Cunningham, Woodridge Chief of Police; Keith Krestan, Fire Chief Lisle Woodridge Fire District; John Caldwell, Firemedic EMT Lisle Woodridge Fire District; Dana Pavlu and Shannon Hartnett, NEDFYS North East DuPage Family Youth Services; Tim McGavin and Bob McEllin, DuPage County Probation Department and Colleen Zavodny, Elmhurst University.

###