DU PAGE COUNTY GOES ON-LINE TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE
WHEATON - DuPage County authorities including Chief Judge Ann Jorgensen, Clerk of the Circuit Court Chris Kachiroubas and State’s Attorney Joseph E. Birkett today unveiled a newly created On-Line Electronic Petition for Emergency Orders of Protection program and accompanying tutorial that will assist victims of domestic violence in obtaining an order of protection against their abuser. While the electronic Petition for Emergency Orders of Protection has been in operation since September, 2007, the new tutorial, written by the Family Shelter Services of DuPage County, debuted on-line less than one month ago thanks to new programming designed, maintained and supported by Kachiroubas’ office.
While the program is currently available to users only at the DuPage County Government Center in Wheaton, authorities plan to expand availability through intergovernmental agreements and other partnerships throughout DuPage County to include among other locations, township offices, police departments, park districts and domestic violence shelters.
Chief Judge Ann Jorgensen commented on the importance of the new web-based program stating, “What an Order of Protection does is to give a victim of domestic abuse control of their surroundings. The Order is a very powerful tool victims have to prevent their abuser from committing further abuse. That is why this program is so important. It allows victims of domestic abuse to get the help they need from the courts in a very quick and user-friendly manner.”
The program, which was spearheaded by Jorgensen’s and Kachiroubas’ offices, is modeled after an already in-use program in Kane County. Clerk of the Circuit Court Chris Kachiroubas noted however, that DuPage County has invested a great deal of time and energy into the program and that, “If we can save just one abuse, then all the effort and all the hours of time spent on creating this program are well worth it.” Kachiroubas also added “I look forward to working together with DuPage County townships and other local entities to assist domestic abuse victims in getting the help they need.”
While the program itself is extremely user friendly, representatives from Family Shelter Services in Wheaton will conduct on-site training for staff members where the program is available on how to help victims of domestic abuse navigate their way through the process.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the agencies and individuals involved in the successful creation and implementation of this extremely important program,” remarked State’s Attorney Joe Birkett. “Chief Judge Ann Jorgensen and Clerk of the Circuit Court Chris Kachiroubas have each gone far above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that this project not only got off the ground but that once it did it took off. I would also like to thank the staff at the Family Shelter Services for their assistance, hard work and determination to make our On-Line Electronic Petition for Emergency Orders of Protection Program and accompanying tutorial available to those who need it and as user friendly as possible. I would also like to offer a special thanks to Amy Milligan of the Family Shelter Services who almost single-handedly wrote the tutorial. If not for Amy’s investment of time and energy, we would not be standing here today.”
###
