DuPage Co. makes reporting abuse easier

Amy Milligan knows what it is like to wade through mountains of paperwork with a scared woman trying to fill out an emergency order of protection petition.

Milligan, director of Family Shelter Service's community advocacy program, said the process usually takes hours. But, under a new electronic system unveiled Tuesday in DuPage County, it just became a lot simpler.

Flanked by several judicial officials, Milligan joined DuPage Circuit Clerk Chris Kachiroubas in announcing a new two-fold approach to making access to protective petitions faster and easier.

Beside offering the petition forms electronically, complete with a new instructional tutorial, DuPage County officials also are partnering with the area's nine townships so potential victims may visit any of those locations to fill out the paperwork. The increased access closer to home may save time for people without transportation or with busy work schedules.

"I really believe this is going to make the process much easier, faster and efficient," Milligan said.

DuPage County is the second in Illinois to offer electronic protective petitions. The system is modeled after a similar one adopted last year in Kane County, where Circuit Clerk Deborah Seyller said the number of protective orders that were granted increased with the paperless system from 1,140 in 2006 to 1,600 in 2007. The petition is available at www.cic.co.kane.il.us.

Lake and Kendall counties hope to start the Web-based system as soon as funding is available, officials there said.

In the past, those seeking a protective order in DuPage County had to come to the courthouse and wait for hours while filling out the long petition with the help of someone like Milligan. With the new system, they can fill out the form anywhere there is Internet access, from the local library to a friend's house or even a township office.

Once completed, the user gets a reference number. The next step is to come to the courthouse with the number and, that same day, after signing the document and swearing to its authenticity, they'll appear before a judge who decides if a emergency protective order should be granted.

Kachiroubas' office is acquiring an online domain registration before the electronic form is accessible to the public. He said the process only takes a day. Soon, it'll be linked to www.dupagecase.com.

"It allows victims of domestic abuse to get the help they need from the courts in a very quick and user-friendly manner," said DuPage Chief Judge Ann Jorgensen. "There's minimal amount of wasted time."

Others involved in the new program include DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett and DuPage County Bar Association past president Fred Spitzzeri, who served on a committee that researched the program.

How to get help

Northwest Cook County

• Women In Need Growing Stronger (WINGS) (847) 908-0910

DuPage County

• Family Shelter Service in Wheaton (630) 469-5650

Kane County

• Prairie State Legal Services: (630) 232-9415 and (800) 942-4612

• Community Crisis Center in Elgin (847) 697-2380

• Mutual Ground in Aurora (630) 897-0080

Lake County

• Prairie State Legal Services: (815) 206-5828 and (800) 942-3940

• A Safe Place in Waukegan (847)-249-4450

Source: Daily Herald interviews