SPRINGFIELD –– Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White announced today that his office, the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) and the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA) are training librarians and law enforcement officials throughout the state about important programs available to victims of violence.
White said the goal of the training is to establish community libraries as central repositories and safe environments where victims of violent crimes can get information about local assistance and shelters as well as how to apply for crime victim's compensation.
"In working with the Court of Claims, I was concerned about the many victims of violent crimes who don't know where to go for safe shelter or to get help," said White. "In my position as the Clerk of the Court of Claims and the State Librarian, I felt we could coordinate efforts to get this important information to victims through community libraries.
"I want to thank the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault for helping us with this project. They play such an important role in helping crime victims and we want to do everything we can to make people aware of their services and the resources available to victims of violence."
White said the training will be coordinated through regional library systems in Illinois. Local advocates from domestic violence shelters will teach librarians and police officers about the cycle of violence in domestic situations and provide referral information for domestic violence shelters and services in their respective area of the state. Local advocates from sexual assault programs will teach librarians and police officers about the dynamics of rape and provide referral information for rape crisis centers and counseling available to victims of sexual assault.
In addition, the training will include detailed information on crime victim's compensation such as who is eligible and how to help victims file applications. Under the Illinois Crime Victim's Compensation Act, victims of violent crimes who have inadequate insurance or no source of funds to cover their expenses are eligible for compensation covering medical bills, counseling, lost wages and other expenses. The Court of Claims distributes $25 million per year to Illinois victims of violent crimes.
Each library will receive informational brochures for victims and posters to help make communities aware that the libraries are equipped to assist victims of violence. In addition, information for victims of violence is available through Secretary of State Jesse White's website at Assistance for Victims of Violence.
