Kane County Circuit Clerk Launches HOPE Card Program
Kane County Circuit Clerk Media Release 4/29/2025 9:00AM
Kane County residents with plenary orders of protection will be able starting April 28th to obtain HOPE Cards, making it easier to report violations.
A HOPE Card is a laminated card that includes essential information about a plenary order of protection which is presented to law enforcement when reporting a violation of an order of protection or other related crimes without having to present the actual court documents.
“Kane County Circuit Clerk’s Office is excited to be a part of the next phase of this pilot with other Circuit Clerk Offices throughout the State of Illinois that will be issuing HOPE Cards,” Circuit Clerk Theresa E. Barreiro said. “The concept is to have a card that fits in your wallet rather than carrying around a stack of court paperwork. The HOPE Card’s purpose is to make it easier for victims and survivors of domestic violence to have an accessible card with the pertinent information for law enforcement readily at their fingertips.”
“A Hope Card provides a party the opportunity to seek enforcement of a court order without relying upon cumbersome paperwork. We appreciate all such efforts to make enforcing a court order more efficient” said Chief Judge Robert Villa.
A HOPE Card lists the case number the names of the petitioner and other people protected under the order of protection, as well as the name of the respondent and whether he or she has specific firearm restrictions under the order. Law enforcement upon be presented with a HOPE Card must verify the information through the Illinois Law Enforcement Agencies Data System.
Individuals with current valid plenary orders of protection who wish to obtain a HOPE Card may do so starting Monday, April 28th, in Room 007 of the Kane County Judicial Center, 37W777 Route 38, St. Charles as well as our main office located at 540 S. Randall Rd., St. Charles. There is no cost for the Hope Card.
A 2021 law empowered the Illinois Supreme Court to implement the program, which is being gradually rolled out. Five Illinois counties – DeKalb, DuPage, Jefferson, Grundy and Madison – began issuing the cards last year, and Kane County joins, McHenry, Winnebago, Marion and Coles counties in this latest expansion.
Illinois is one of nine states that have created HOPE card programs, and more state legislatures are considering doing so.
