An Illinois nonprofit that provides free online legal resources is seeing a significant uptick in domestic-violence inquiries. Illinois Legal Aid Online has seen a 25% increase in the last six months.
Teri Ross, executive director of Illinois Legal Aid Online, said nearly 3,000 people have used the order-of-protection tool this year and another 67,000 people have accessed other domestic violence resources. She said one of the group's most used tools is called "easy forms," which Ross described as something like Turbo Tax, only it’s free.

Last year, Illinois saw a 110% increase in reported domestic violence incidents. Ross said many survivors don’t seek legal help because they can’t afford it and are unaware of available resources. She thinks the increase in utilization is the start of a shift in this trend.

Research shows domestic violence disproportionately affects people of color and low-income people, with low-income women three times more likely to experience it. Ross is focused on closing that justice gap by helping to simplify a daunting system.

Ross added that a larger dynamic is also at play about why many people don’t seek help and end up staying in domestic-violence situations. She says economic, psychological and social factors can also be involved, but that may be difficult for others to understand.

Ross says people can also get 24/7 help through texting 'ILAO,' and explained that one of the ways it is able to offer services free of charge is through public donations, and people can learn more about the group's resources on its website.