17th Circuit Receives $2,100,000 in Federal Funding to Enhance the Court Response to Domestic Violence Chief Judge John S. Lowry is pleased to announce that the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Winnebago County, IL Domestic Violence Coordinated Court is the recipient of two federal awards from the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, the Justice for Families and the Electronic Service Protection Order Court Pilot. The $600,000.00 Justice for Families award provides continued support for the circuit’s Domestic Violence Coordinated Court and includes funding for advocacy and increased access to justice initiatives for survivors within the court system. The Electronic Service Protection Order Pilot is a $1,500,000.00, five-year award that designates Winnebago County to serve as a pilot site for the electronic service of order of protection paperwork. This pilot includes a two-year planning period followed by an implementation program. Judge Joseph P. Bruscato, Presiding Judge of the Domestic Violence Coordinated Court and Family Division commented, “We are grateful to the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women for their continued support of our Domestic Violence Coordinated Court and for their trust in designating Winnebago County as a pilot site for the electronic service of protective order documents. We look forward to continuing to expand and enhance our court response to matters involving domestic violence and are excited to contribute to national best practices around these topics.” Deputy Court Administrator Nicole Ticknor added, “This funding provided by the Office on Violence Against Women is integral to the growth of our Domestic Violence Coordinated Court and our ability to implement innovative responses and programing that serve to improve access to justice, safety, and accountability for all.” The Domestic Violence Coordinated Court was established in 2012 and serves as a nationally-recognized Domestic Violence Mentor Court. For more information about the Domestic Violence Coordinated Court or the above awards, contact Nicole Ticknor, Deputy Court Administrator. PDF of Press Release
