Bob Berlin Gives Keynote Address at "It Ends With Us" Domestic Violence Gala
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert “Bob” Berlin at the It Ends With Us Movement Gala with (from L to R): Illinois State Representative Nicole La Ha, It Ends With Us Movement founder Dana Roppo, and Illinois State Representative Jennifer Sanalitro.
“OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH,” STATES ATTORNEY ROBERT “BOB” BERLIN STATED. “I BELIEVE NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE IN FEAR OF THEIR HUSBAND, WIFE, SIGNIFICANT OTHER, OR OTHER FAMILY MEMBER. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHOULD NEVER BE TOLERATED OR EXCUSED. WE MUST ALL STAND TOGETHER AND DO WHAT WE CAN TO ELIMINATE THIS SCOURGE IN OUR COMMUNITY.”
ADDISON - On Friday, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert “Bob” Berlin provided the keynote address at the “It Ends With Us Movement” Annual Gala at Empress Banquets. The It Ends With Us Movement empowers women to heal from relationship trauma and break generational cycles of abuse. The organization provides a safe sanctuary where women reconnect with their authentic selves, understand the roots of their pain, and build resilient futures for themselves and their children. Through compassionate resources, transformative wellness events, and practical guidance, the organization helps women transform their deepest wounds into their greatest strength. October is nationally recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Berlin’s speech focused on the quantifiable progress that has been made in DuPage County combating domestic violence.
A REDUCTION IN MISDEMEANOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES
That progress includes a reduction in overall, misdemeanor domestic violence cases. In 2025, the total number of misdemeanor domestic violence cases were down 2.9% (1,786 in 2024 to 1,734 in 2025), but down over 8% from 2023, when the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office filed 1,894 DV cases). Research shows that arresting suspects at the time of the incident reduces repeat victimization over the following year by approximately 50%. Data suggest that an immediate arrest facilitates a cooling down period in the short run and deters further abuse in the long run.
A MULTI-LAYERED APPROACH TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Additionally, Berlin’s office and other partners throughout the county have used a multi-layered approach, using the criminal justice system and community based support for survivors. Those stakeholders and community leader include, but are not limited to: the Honorable Judge Ann Celine O. Walsh, Chair, Family Violence Coordinating Council; Heather Jamison, Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Program Supervisor for Family Shelter Service of Metropolitan Family Services DuPage; and Diana Hightower, Coordinator, DuPage Family Violence Coordinating Council.
In March 2023, the Family Violence Coordinating Council and DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office introduced a domestic violence-resource QR codes for victims. Previously, when a law enforcement officer was called to a domestic incident, the officer would provide the victim with a “tear sheet”, which is a list of agencies and other resources that are available to help victims get the assistance they need. The old “tear sheets” are now supplemented with the QR code, which can be scanned and saved directly to the victim’s cellular phone. Once downloaded, the QR code will not only provide victims with critical information and available resources, but will also do so in a safe, secure and discreet manner. After scanning the QR code, users will be directed to an alternate website from which they can then safely navigate to direct links to many valuable resources including: the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, YWCA, Family Shelter Services, DCFS, DuPage County Resources System, DuPage County Family Center and DuPage County Legal Aid, among others. In addition, users can also access links to Adult Protective Services and Juvenile related resources. The alternate website is designed to protect a victim if the perpetrator views or takes a victim’s phone with the QR Code stored on it.
LEADING THE STATE IN FIREARMS RESTRAINING ORDERS
Additionally, Bob Berlin’s office has led the state in the use of Firearm Restraining Orders (FROs) since the law was put into place on January 1, 2019. The statistics through December 31, 2025 bear this out. In the six (6) year period since the law took effect, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office has filed 234 FROs, accounting for 21% of all FROs filed throughout the entire state (234/1,126 total FROs statewide).
SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF KARINA’S LAW
The office’s policies, procedures, and organization has allowed it to seamlessly implement Karina’s Law (which went into effect on May 11, 2025). Karina’s Law allows a petitioner to file a petition and the judge to issue a search warrant. The search warrant is issued if the respondent poses a credible threat to the physical safety of the petitioner protected by the Order of Protection (OOP) and that threat is immediate and present.
EXPANDING ACCESS TO ORDERS OF PROTECTION
Currently, domestic violence survivors can fill out and submit petitions for OOPs on-line, even after hours. Additionally, survivors can walk-in to First Appearance Court on weekends and holidays and obtain an OOP on site. Under Berlin’s leadership, the State’s Attorney’s Office has partnered with DuPage Legal Aid in an effort to further aid victims of Domestic Violence and their families. To that end, Legal Aid attorneys can now assist the Office’s Victim Services and Child Support Units, and help victims with non-monetary issues covered by the Court’s order by providing the necessary legal guidance victims may need to make responsible decisions.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTAKE UNIT
Beginning in May 2024, the Office has featured a dedicated Domestic Violence Intake Unit that immediately receives information on every domestic battery case, so that State’s Attorneys are prepared for First Appearance Court. This allows the State’s Attorneys to better serve victims in protecting them from their abusers, seeking justice and accountability for offenders, and helping victims become whole - emotionally, physically, and financially.
IT ENDS WITH US MOVEMENT
The It Ends With Us Movement was born from profound pain transformed into purposeful healing. The organization’s founder, Dana Roppo, survived a brutal attack when she was only 18 years old —stabbed 18 times by an ex-boyfriend and left to die. Navigating the lasting trauma of that attack led her to create the It Ends With Us Movement. Services provided by the movement include:
Monthly breathwork classes/sound healing workshops led by certified practitioners offering trauma-informed techniques.
Quarterly self defense classes held at various local studios.
Online support groups facilitated by licensed counselors and trauma-informed coaches.
Monthly legal clinics providing free consultations with domestic violence attorneys.
Children’s therapeutic activities addressing young trauma survivors’ unique needs.
BONUS: THE HISTORY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) begin as a “Day of Unity” in October 1981. The event was conceived by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The goal of the event was to connect advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children, and the range of activities associated with the effort ultimately expanded to include events at the local, state, and national levels.
In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed, and the first national domestic violence toll-free hotline was launched. In 1989, Congress designated October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and every year since, organizations around the country have marked the month with a variety of awareness activities focused on a few common themes: mourning those who have died as a result of domestic violence, acknowledging and celebrating those who have survived, and connecting allies and others motivated to end all forms of relationship violence. Here are some of the most recent statistic on domestic violence, provided by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (via Centers for Disease Control research):
GENERAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FACTS:
In the U.S. over 10 million adults experience domestic violence every year.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men experience sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
Intimate partner violence is most common among women who are aged 18 to 24.
1 in 5 women and 1 in 40 men in the U.S. are victims of rape or attempted rape.
1 in 2 female victims and 1 in 13 male victims are murdered by intimate partners.
On an average day, domestic violence hotlines across the nation receive over 20,000 calls.
Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crimes.
The presence of a gun in a domestic situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%.
Only 34% of people who are injured by intimate partners receive medical care for their injuries.
CHILDREN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, each year, 1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence. Furthermore, 90% of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence.
In the U.S., 15.5 million children live in families where partner violence happened at least once within the past year.
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