orders of protection

An Order of Protection is a written court order, signed by a judge, which requires an abusive household or family member to do or not to do certain things. The judge can order any or all of the following remedies:

Forbid any further abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

Order the abuser not to enter the shared home for a period of time. This is often called a vacate order or an exclusive possession order. A vacate order can:

  • Order the abuser to stay away from person or persons protected by the order or prohibit the abuser from entering or remaining in a specified place.
  • Require or recommend counseling for the abuser.
  • Award physical care and possession of minor child.
  • Award temporary legal custody.
  • Determine visitation.
  • Prohibit the abuser from removing the child from the state or concealing the child within the state.
  • Order the abuser to appear in court alone, or with the child.
  • Grant possession of personal property to the victim.
  • Forbid the abuser from taking, transferring or destroying the victim's property.
  • Order the abuser to pay temporary support to the victim and/or children.
  • Order the abuser to pay the victim for losses suffered as a direct result of the abuse (medical and dental expenses, repair/replacement of damaged property, attorney's fees, court costs, etc.)
  • Prohibit the abuser from entering or remaining in the residence or household while the abuser is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Prohibit the abuser access to school records if the abuser is prohibited contact with a minor child.
  • Order the abuser to reimburse a shelter providing temporary shelter and counseling to petitioner.
  • Order injunctive relief as necessary or appropriate to prevent further abuse.

How do I get an Order of Protection?

You can get help filing for an Order of Protection by contacting Center court advocates located at each of the three county courthouses. Contact information for each is as follows:

Peoria County Courthouse (309)672-6074

Tazewell County Courthouse (309) 346-6645

Woodford County Courthouse (309) 467-3212

If you are granted an Order, get several copies made and keep one with you at all times. Give copies to your employer, daycare worker, and school staff.

If you have children, think about a specific plan for how and when visitation will occur between the abuser and the children. If the visitations will be supervised, think of someone ahead of time that can be the supervisor.

Who should I call if my abuser violates my Order?

  • If the abuser violates the Order by abusing you again, or by coming onto your property when the Order forbids him to do so, CALL THE POLICE.
  • When the police arrive, show them the Order. If there is proof of the Order's violation, the police should arrest him. If he is not arrested, ask the police to at least write out a Police Report. If you have an attorney, let them know, then call the court advocate at The Center (please see above for contact information).
  • How should I document violations of the Order?
  • Every time the abuser calls or comes to the home, record the dates and times.
  • If a police report is made, get a copy if possible.
  • Every time the police are involved, get the officer's name and badge number.
  • If the abuser is following you around in his car, record dates, times, and places.
  • If you need to seek medical care from the hospital because of being battered, ask the hospital staff to take two pictures--one for their records and one for you to keep. If you seek shelter at The Center, ask someone there to take pictures of the battering evidence.
  • Save all harassing e-mail and messages left on your answering machine or voicemail.
  • Record every time the abuser tries to contact you through a third party.

What if I need to leave the State I got the Order in?

Is my Order enforceable in other states?

YES. Under the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), jurisdictions must give full faith and credit to valid protection orders issued by other jurisdictions. Full faith and credit is a legal term that means jurisdictions must honor and enforce orders issued by courts in other jurisdictions.

Simply stated, full faith and credit means that a valid order of protection is enforceable where it is issued and in all 50 states, Indian tribal lands, the District of Columbia, the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.

If you need help getting your order enforced in a jurisdiction other than where it was entered then you, a domestic violence advocate, your attorney, or even the police can contact:

Full Faith and Credit Project
1-800-256-5883