As most of you know, I typically like to raise money for SACIS (Sexual Assault Counseling and Informational Services) in Charleston, Illinois for my birthday and/or my “Alive Day” in the first week of February. This year I wanted to do something more impactful, and something that is more far reaching than our local community.  

And I don’t want to wait until the aforementioned time.

Please consider signing.

I am a survivor, and I was not my rapist's first victim, he had a history of domestic violence. This is not just my story, but the story of countless women who fall prey to individuals with a history of domestic abuse. We need preventative measures that can help us avoid such traumatic experiences.

In the United Kingdom, there exists a law named Clare's Law or the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme. This law allows potential victims to request information about their partner's criminal history related to domestic violence or violent acts. It was implemented after Clare Wood was murdered by her ex-boyfriend who had a record of violence against women.

We need this law in Illinois and across the United States as well. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), 1 in 3 women have been victims of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime, and on a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide.

By implementing Clare’s Law here in Illinois, we could potentially prevent many cases of domestic abuse before they happen by providing crucial information about an individual’s violent past to those at risk.

We urge our lawmakers and decision-makers - protect us from known perpetrators with histories of violent behavior. Bring Clare’s Law from the UK to Illinois! Please sign this petition if you believe everyone has the right to know if they are at risk from their partners due to previous instances of domestic violence.