SPRINGFIELD – According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women in the U.S. have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. In Illinois, sexual assault and rape survivors will soon see greater protections during case interviews to prevent re-traumatization thanks to a new law passed by State Senator Mary Edly-Allen.

“As a teacher, it is extremely important to me to come from a position of helping people learn and grow. The intent of this law is to focus attention on how law enforcement handles survivors of sexual assault,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “While we have come a long way, there is still much work to be done to address this issue. And when we know better, we do better.”

Under the new law, trauma-informed response training will be expanded by adding curriculum on identifying potential conflicts of interest in a case, particularly when an officer is familiar with any of the parties involved in a case. The training will also cover the available options for addressing such conflicts appropriately.

“The signage of Anna’s Law is another step in the direction of ensuring our law enforcement responses to sexual and domestic violence are survivor-centered and trauma-informed,” said Maralea Negron, director of policy, advocacy and research at The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence.

“Addressing conflicts of interest in law enforcement responses will directly support survivors who hesitate to report because of these associated risks.”

"The signing of Anna's Law marks a pivotal moment for law enforcement in Illinois," said Sean Smoot, Board Chairman of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. "This legislation underscores our collective commitment to ensuring that every officer is equipped with the knowledge and skills to respond to victims of sexual assault and sexual abuse with the utmost sensitivity, empathy, and professionalism."

Senate Bill 1195 was signed into law on Friday and goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.