ILCS » Chapter 750 · Act 60
Illinois Compiled Statutes

750 ILCS 60/102 (2026)

Purposes; rules of construction

✓ current as of May 2026
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(750 ILCS 60/102) (from Ch. 40, par. 2311-2)
    Sec. 102. Purposes; rules of construction. This Act shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes, which are to:
    (1) Recognize domestic violence as a serious crime against the individual and society which produces family disharmony in thousands of Illinois families, promotes a pattern of escalating violence which frequently culminates in intra-family homicide, and creates an emotional atmosphere that is not conducive to healthy childhood development;
    (2) Recognize domestic violence against high risk adults with disabilities, who are particularly vulnerable due to impairments in ability to seek or obtain protection, as a serious problem which takes on many forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and facilitate accessibility of remedies under the Act in order to provide immediate and effective assistance and protection.
    (3) Recognize that the legal system has ineffectively dealt with family violence in the past, allowing abusers to escape effective prosecution or financial liability, and has not adequately acknowledged the criminal nature of domestic violence; that, although many laws have changed, in practice there is still widespread failure to appropriately protect and assist victims;
    (4) Support the efforts of victims of domestic violence to avoid further abuse by promptly entering and diligently enforcing court orders which prohibit abuse and, when necessary, reduce the abuser's access to the victim and address any related issues of child custody and economic support, so that victims are not trapped in abusive situations by fear of retaliation, loss of a child, financial dependence, or loss of accessible housing or services;
    (5) Clarify the responsibilities and support the efforts of law enforcement officers to provide immediate, effective assistance and protection for victims of domestic violence, recognizing that law enforcement officers often become the secondary victims of domestic violence, as evidenced by the high rates of police injuries and deaths that occur in response to domestic violence calls; and
    (6) Expand the civil and criminal remedies for victims of domestic violence; including, when necessary, the remedies which effect physical separation of the parties to prevent further abuse.
(Source: P.A. 86-542; 87-1186.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 95 cases (21 in the last 5 years), 1994–2026 · leading case: Moore v. Green, 848 N.E.2d 1015 (Ill. 2006).
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Moore v. Green, 848 N.E.2d 1015 (Ill. 2006). · cites it 10× “These purposes are, in part, to "(1) Recognize domestic violence as a serious crime against the individual and society which produces family disharmony in thousands of Illinois families, promotes a pattern of escalating violence which frequently culminates in intrafamily…”
Calloway v. Kinkelaar, 659 N.E.2d 1322 (Ill. 1995). · cites it 12× “Section 102 sets forth the Act's purposes: to "[r]ecognize domestic violence as a serious crime against the individual and society which * * * promotes a pattern of escalating violence which frequently culminates in intra-family homicide" (750 ILCS 60/102(1) (West 1992)) and to…”
Benjamin v. McKinnon, 887 N.E.2d 14 (Ill. App. Ct. 2008). · cites it 8× “750 ILCS 60/102 (West 2006). The first purpose of the Domestic Violence Act is as follows: "(1) Recognize domestic violence as a serious crime against the individual and society which produces family disharmony in thousands of Illinois families, promotes a pattern of escalating…”
People v. LEEZER, 903 N.E.2d 726 (Ill. App. Ct. 2008). · cites it 10× “The Act is intended to "reduce the abuser's access to the victim * * * so that victims are not trapped in abusive situations by fear of retaliation * * * or loss of accessible housing" (750 ILCS 60/102(4) (West 2006)) and to expand the victim's criminal remedies to effect…”
Feltmeier v. Feltmeier, 798 N.E.2d 75 (Ill. 2003). “” 750 ILCS 60/ 102(1), (3) (West 2002). However, as the appellate court herein noted, while the Act created the crime of domestic battery and “provides a number of remedies in an effort to protect abused spouses and family members, it did not create a civil cause of action to…”
Beyer v. City of Joliet, 910 N.E.2d 621 (Ill. App. Ct. 2009). · cites it 12× “The Act was framed to create greater recognition of the seriousness of domestic violence on individual victims and families, and to prevent the escalating violence that so many times results in intrafamily homicide.”
Moore v. Chicago Police Dep't Officer Christopher Green, 822 N.E.2d 69 (Ill. App. Ct. 2004). · cites it 7× “See 750 ILCS 60/102 (West 2002); Radke v. Radke, 349 Ill.”
Lacey v. Vill. of Palatine, 904 N.E.2d 18 (Ill. 2009). · cites it 2× “” 750 ILCS 60/102 (West 2002). See also Moore, 219 Ill.”
ALISON C. v. Westcott, 798 N.E.2d 813 (Ill. App. Ct. 2003). · cites it 3× “” 750 ILCS 60/102 (West 2002). Among the purposes delineated in the Act is to “[Recognize domestic violence as a serious crime against the individual and society which produces family disharmony in thousands of Illinois families, promotes a pattern of escalating violence which…”
Whitten v. Whitten, 686 N.E.2d 19 (Ill. App. Ct. 1997). · cites it 3× “750 ILCS 60/102 (West 1996). Included among the purposes of the Act is recognition that "the legal system has ineffectively dealt with family violence in the past” (750 ILCS 60/102(3) (West 1996)), and to "[s]up-port the efforts of victims of domestic violence to avoid further…”
Radke Ex Rel. Radke v. Radke, 812 N.E.2d 9 (Ill. App. Ct. 2004). · cites it 2× “Ross also contends that the order of protection should be vacated because any action to restrict his visitation with Laine should have been taken under the existing dissolution action rather than by obtaining an order of protection.”
Mowen v. Holland, 783 N.E.2d 180 (Ill. App. Ct. 2003). · cites it 2× “750 ILCS 60/102(1) (West 2000). A petition for an order of protection may be filed by any person on behalf of a minor child who has been abused by a family or household member.”
Show all 95 citing cases →
— 750 ILCS 60/102(1) — 33 cases
Calloway v. Kinkelaar, 659 N.E.2d 1322 (Ill. 1995). “Section 102 sets forth the Act's purposes: to "[r]ecognize domestic violence as a serious crime against the individual and society which * * * promotes a pattern of escalating violence which frequently culminates in intra-family homicide" (750 ILCS 60/102(1) (West 1992)) and to…”
Moore v. Green, 848 N.E.2d 1015 (Ill. 2006). “These purposes are, in part, to "(1) Recognize domestic violence as a serious crime against the individual and society which produces family disharmony in thousands of Illinois families, promotes a pattern of escalating violence which frequently culminates in intrafamily…”
Feltmeier v. Feltmeier, 798 N.E.2d 75 (Ill. 2003). “” 750 ILCS 60/ 102(1), (3) (West 2002). However, as the appellate court herein noted, while the Act created the crime of domestic battery and “provides a number of remedies in an effort to protect abused spouses and family members, it did not create a civil cause of action to…”
Benjamin v. McKinnon, 887 N.E.2d 14 (Ill. App. Ct. 2008). “750 ILCS 60/102 (West 2006). The first purpose of the Domestic Violence Act is as follows: "(1) Recognize domestic violence as a serious crime against the individual and society which produces family disharmony in thousands of Illinois families, promotes a pattern of escalating…”
Frank v. Hawkins, 891 N.E.2d 522 (Ill. App. Ct. 2008).
— 750 ILCS 60/102(2) — 2 cases
Martinez v. Leon, 2024 IL App (1st) 231058 (Ill. App. Ct. 2024).
Anderson v. Schlosser, 642 N.E.2d 194 (Ill. App. Ct. 1994).
— 750 ILCS 60/102(3) — 8 cases
Calloway v. Kinkelaar, 659 N.E.2d 1322 (Ill. 1995). “Section 102 sets forth the Act's purposes: to "[r]ecognize domestic violence as a serious crime against the individual and society which * * * promotes a pattern of escalating violence which frequently culminates in intra-family homicide" (750 ILCS 60/102(1) (West 1992)) and to…”
Feltmeier v. Feltmeier, 777 N.E.2d 1032 (Ill. App. Ct. 2002).
Whitten v. Whitten, 686 N.E.2d 19 (Ill. App. Ct. 1997). “750 ILCS 60/102 (West 1996). Included among the purposes of the Act is recognition that "the legal system has ineffectively dealt with family violence in the past” (750 ILCS 60/102(3) (West 1996)), and to "[s]up-port the efforts of victims of domestic violence to avoid further…”
Beyer v. City of Joliet, 910 N.E.2d 621 (Ill. App. Ct. 2009). “The Act was framed to create greater recognition of the seriousness of domestic violence on individual victims and families, and to prevent the escalating violence that so many times results in intrafamily homicide.”
Moore v. Chicago Police Dep't Officer Christopher Green, 822 N.E.2d 69 (Ill. App. Ct. 2004). “See 750 ILCS 60/102 (West 2002); Radke v. Radke, 349 Ill.”
— 750 ILCS 60/102(4) — 31 cases
Moore v. Green, 848 N.E.2d 1015 (Ill. 2006). “These purposes are, in part, to "(1) Recognize domestic violence as a serious crime against the individual and society which produces family disharmony in thousands of Illinois families, promotes a pattern of escalating violence which frequently culminates in intrafamily…”
Calloway v. Kinkelaar, 659 N.E.2d 1322 (Ill. 1995). “Section 102 sets forth the Act's purposes: to "[r]ecognize domestic violence as a serious crime against the individual and society which * * * promotes a pattern of escalating violence which frequently culminates in intra-family homicide" (750 ILCS 60/102(1) (West 1992)) and to…”
People v. LEEZER, 903 N.E.2d 726 (Ill. App. Ct. 2008). “The Act is intended to "reduce the abuser's access to the victim * * * so that victims are not trapped in abusive situations by fear of retaliation * * * or loss of accessible housing" (750 ILCS 60/102(4) (West 2006)) and to expand the victim's criminal remedies to effect…”
Wood v. Wood, 672 N.E.2d 385 (Ill. App. Ct. 1996).
In Re Marriage of Padilla & Kowalski, 2017 IL App (1st) 170215 (Ill. App. Ct. 2017).
— 750 ILCS 60/102(5) — 2 cases
Moore v. Chicago Police Dep't Officer Christopher Green, 822 N.E.2d 69 (Ill. App. Ct. 2004). “See 750 ILCS 60/102 (West 2002); Radke v. Radke, 349 Ill.”
Moore v. Chicago Police Dep't Officer Green (Ill. App. Ct. 2004).
— 750 ILCS 60/102(6) — 12 cases
Calloway v. Kinkelaar, 659 N.E.2d 1322 (Ill. 1995). “Section 102 sets forth the Act's purposes: to "[r]ecognize domestic violence as a serious crime against the individual and society which * * * promotes a pattern of escalating violence which frequently culminates in intra-family homicide" (750 ILCS 60/102(1) (West 1992)) and to…”
People v. LEEZER, 903 N.E.2d 726 (Ill. App. Ct. 2008). “The Act is intended to "reduce the abuser's access to the victim * * * so that victims are not trapped in abusive situations by fear of retaliation * * * or loss of accessible housing" (750 ILCS 60/102(4) (West 2006)) and to expand the victim's criminal remedies to effect…”
In Re Marriage of Holtorf, 922 N.E.2d 1173 (Ill. App. Ct. 2010).
Dale v. Bennett, 2021 IL App (4th) 200188 (Ill. App. Ct. 2021).
Beyer v. City of Joliet, 910 N.E.2d 621 (Ill. App. Ct. 2009). “The Act was framed to create greater recognition of the seriousness of domestic violence on individual victims and families, and to prevent the escalating violence that so many times results in intrafamily homicide.”
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