Domestic Violence Information

The Illinois Domestic Violence Help Line is toll free, confidential, multilingual, and open 24-hour at (877) 863-6338. If you’re outside of Illinois and need domestic violence services, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233.

Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship. That includes behaviors that physically harm, intimidate, manipulate, or control a partner, or otherwise force them to behave in ways they don’t want to, including through physical violence, threats, emotional abuse, or financial control. If the violence is occurring right now, call 911.

The Sheriff’s Office Can Help

If you believe that you’ve experienced domestic violence, it’s important that you know you can file an Order of Protection (OOP), a court order that directs a violent person to stop harassing a victim or the victim’s children. You can also protect yourself and your family through the Firearm Restraining Order Act (FRO), a court order that may remove weapons from someone who is at risk of hurting themselves or others.

• To file an OOP, follow this guidance, or contact the below Courts for more information:
  • Daley Center: (312) 603-2134 (Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM)
  • Skokie Courthouse: (847) 470-7354 (Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 6 PM)
  • Markham Courthouse: (708) 232-5744 (Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 6 PM)
  • After-hours court clerks and judges are available, see here for more information:
    • Monday – Friday: 9 PM – 3 AM
    • Saturday – Sunday: 1 PM – 6 PM
  • To file an FRO, follow this guidance, or contact the Circuit Court of Cook County at (312) 603-4357 for more information.

The Sheriff’s Office has trained staff to help you create a safety plan, which is a personalized, practical plan to improve your safety while experiencing abuse, preparing to leave an abusive situation, or after you leave, and will connect you with a domestic violence agency. CCSO’s Community Resource Center can also help you file an OOP or FRO, find emergency shelter, clothing, work, or other resources, call them at (773) 405-5116 or email them at ccso.resourcecenter@ccsheriff.org 7 AM – 5 PM.

• Create a Safety Plan
  • Safety Planning with Children
  • Safety Planning with Pets
  • Safety Planning During Pregnancy

Additional Domestic Violence Resources

• Warning Signs
• Situations Involving Children
• Supporting Survivors
• LGBTQ Survivors
• Male Survivors
• VINE allows crime victims to obtain timely and reliable information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders 24 hours a day. Victims and other concerned citizens can also register to be notified by phone, email or TTY device.
• The Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) allows employees who are victims of violence or who have family members who are victims of violence to take unpaid leave to seek assistance. Call (312) 793-6797 for more information.
• Victim Compensation – You may be eligible for reimbursement of medical or counseling expenses under the Illinois Crime Victims Compensation Act.  For more information, go to the Illinois Attorney General’s webpage on Helping Crime Victims.
• Search the National Domestic Violence Hotline’s Service Provider Directory
• Immigrant Survivors
• Legal Aid
• If you or someone you know are experiencing a domestic violence situation and are afraid to reach out because of your immigration status, please contact Legal Aid Society. Call their voice message hotline anytime at (312) 986-4105. Leave your name and phone number, and their intake specialists will call you back.