In the News

News Sun, January 5, 2009

A bill to protect domestic violence victims, co-sponsored by a Lake County lawmaker, is now Illinois law.

In response to the death of Cindy Bischof, an Arlington Heights woman killed by her ex-boyfriend, state Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest, introduced Senate Bill 2719 that establishes the Domestic Violence Surveillance Program. Under the new law, offenders who violate an order of protection could be ordered to wear a GPS tracking device while on bail as a condition of probation or upon release from custody.

Garrett said that under the law that took effect Jan. 1, Illinois became the second state to use GPS tracking devices for convicted domestic violence offenders.

"It's amazing that we can tap into this kind of technology to save lives," Garrett said. "We don't expect it to eliminate all of the problems, but we do expect it to be a major deterrent. It's a huge protection for women."

Under the law, the cost of the program is covered by fees charged to offenders.