Sorensen Announces $2.6 Million for Winnebago County Law Enforcement

ROCKFORD, IL – As we approach the start of National Crime Prevention Month, Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is announcing $2,600,000 in resources for Winnebago County law enforcement to investigate domestic violence crimes and help families impacted by domestic violence. 

“Just last month I met with local police officers in Northern Illinois, where they told me they needed more help from Washington to solve crimes and protect our neighbors,” said Sorensen.“This important funding will do just that, by providing our law enforcement agencies in Winnebago County with tools to properly investigate domestic violence crimes and support survivors when they need it most. I will always work to bring tax dollars back home to make sure Northern Illinois communities are safe for our neighbors.”   

“Our office is thrilled to be a part of these grants,” said State’s Attorney J. Hanley. “It will allow us to expand upon the success we have had in holding abusers accountable and earning the trust of survivors.”  

$1,500,000 will go to the Electronic Service Protection Order Court Pilot, which supports efforts to develop programs for serving protection orders through electronic communication methods. Moving to this method allows law enforcement to modernize the service process and make the process more efficient, provide for improved safety for survivors, and make protection orders enforceable as quickly as possible.  

$600,000 will go to the Justice for Families Program to improve the response of the civil and criminal justice system to families with a history of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, or in cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse. Projects supported by the Justice for Families Program are those that focus on keeping survivors and their children safe from further abuse and holding offenders accountable. 

$500,000 will go to The Enhancing Investigations and Prosecution of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program, which encourages law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to expand and improve their capacity to investigate and prosecute domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and in so doing, support survivor safety and autonomy, hold offenders accountable, and promote trust within the surrounding community. 

Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.

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