Sen. Alex Kasser sponsored a bill about “coercive control” in domestic cases, an element of her divorce.
domestic violence
Posted inPolitics
Domestic violence and ‘clean slate’ bills pass Senate
The Senate passed bills that would protect survivors of domestic violence and automatically erase certain crimes from a person’s record.
Posted inJustice
COVID-19 pandemic bringing greater risk for domestic violence victims, activists warn
April saw a 52% increase in domestic violence hotline calls, advocates say.
Posted inNews, Politics
Blumenthal blasts Shanahan for failing to disclose family violence
Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan resigned Tuesday in the wake of news reports of incidents of domestic violence.
Posted inJustice
Bills on domestic violence, incarcerated women get final approval
The state House of Representatives gave final approval Thursday night to a bill giving an array of protections to incarcerated women, particularly those who are pregnant, and to a bill aimed at reducing instances when victims of domestic violence are arrested alongside their attackers.
Posted inJustice
Senate adopts bills to safeguard domestic violence victims, incarcerated women
The Senate unanimously passed bills late Tuesday to safeguard victims of domestic violence and incarcerated women. The bills now go to the House of Representatives.
Posted inJustice
Domestic violence bill wins final passage in Senate
The Connecticut Senate voted 23 to 13 Monday for final passage of a bill proposed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy that will require gun owners to surrender their firearms within 24 hours of being served with a temporary restraining order in domestic violence cases.
Posted inJustice
House conservatives lose battle to block domestic violence law
By a surprisingly strong vote, the House of Representatives overcame tenacious opposition from conservatives Wednesday night to pass and send to the Senate a bill requiring gun owners to surrender their firearms within 24 hours of being served with a temporary restraining order in domestic violence cases. The fight had drawn the notice of the White House.
Posted inJustice, Politics
GOP legislators challenge Malloy’s domestic violence bill
Republican legislators grilled Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s top legal advisers for hours Monday during a public hearing on an administration proposal that sets the safety of domestic violence victims against the rights of gun owners.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Safe Child Act: Making health, safety of CT children the priority
The Safe Child Act which is a bill that would require custody courts to make the health and safety of children the first priority. It would mandate what the courts have been slow to do — integrate evidence-based approaches, multi-disciplinary practices and trauma-informed responses. I have had the privilege of meeting with some state legislators who care dearly about children and I expect will soon introduce the Safe Child Act. It is time that custody courts stop practices that pressure victims to cooperate with their abusers and instead force abusers to stop their abuse if they want a relationship with their children. It is time for the courts to integrate important research into their practices. It is time to reform outdated practices from the 1970s.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Strengthen domestic violence training for Connecticut’s judges
Judge Gill’s essay actually provides a compelling snapshot of limitations that serve to constrict policy and practice related to helping victims of domestic violence stay safe. Judge Gill offers clear evidence as to how and why our judicial system must do better.
Posted inNews
Court warned of ‘life and death’ stakes in domestic cases
The Connecticut Supreme Court heard a public interest appeal Tuesday intended to clarify whether applications for restraining orders in family-violence cases ever can be denied without a hearing. “This isn’t a technicality,” Linda Allard of Greater Hartford Legal Aid told the court. “This is about life and death.”
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Court reform must follow death of little Aaden Moreno
Though we want to think it is so, the recent death of 7-month-old Aaden Moreno at the hands of his father was not a rare event, but an all-too-common outcome of a child custody case. The child’s mother had sought a protective order based on the father’s history of abuse and threats against the mother and child. There is now a substantial body of scientific research that would make family court judges’ jobs easier, but our children will not be protected until we rely on domestic violence experts instead of general practitioners and integrate this important research into the standard court practices. The Safe Child Act is an evidence-based approach requiring that the health and safety of children must be the first priority in all custody and visitation decisions.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut women’s lives depend on fate of firearms removal bill
Two bills currently before the legislature would greatly expand protections for victims of domestic violence by ensuring that if a judge determines a victim is in imminent danger and grants a temporary restraining order, all firearms must be taken away from the person being served with the order. It’s time Connecticut closed a dangerous and unnecessary loophole that jeopardizes women’s safety and security in the home.
Posted inPolitics
Victim’s family asks for vote on domestic violence bill
The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence quickly mobilized Saturday night to press a wavering House leadership to call a vote on legislation intended to allow police to temporarily disarm persons served with temporary restraining orders.