Title: Expands the Definition of Domestic Violence to Include Coercive Control
Signed by Governor Ned Lamont
Title: Expands the Definition of Domestic Violence to Include Coercive Control
Vote to pass a bill that expands the definition of domestic violence to include coercive control.
Defines “domestic violence” as the following, but is not limited to (Sec. 1):
A continuous threat of present physical pain or physical injury against a family or household member;
Stalking of such family or a household member;
A pattern of threatening of such family, a household member, or a third party that intimates such family or household member; and
Coercive control.
Defines “Coercive control” as a pattern of behavior that in purpose or effect unreasonably interferes with a person’s free will and personal liberty (Sec. 1).
Expands behaviors that are classified as “coercive control” to include the following actions (Sec. 1):
Isolating the family or household member from friends, relatives, or other sources of support;
Depriving the family or household member of basic necessities;
Controlling the family or household member’s daily behavior and economic resources;
Compelling the family or household member by force, threat or intimidation based on actual or suspected immigration status;
Committing or threatening to commit cruelty to animals that intimidates the family or household member;
Forcing sex acts, or threats of a sexual nature, including, but not limited to:
Threatened acts of sexual conduct;
Threats based on a person’s sexuality; or
Threats to release sexual images.
Authorizes a family relations court to obtain the testimony of any party or child through alternative means, including, but not limited to (Sec. 3):
Videoconference;
In a room other than the courthouse; or
At another location outside the state.
Requires the Chief Court Administrator of court constructed prior to July 1, 2021 where family violence matters are heard, to provide a secure room for victims of family violence crimes that is separate from any public or private area in the courthouse (Sec. 11).
Requires a proper court officer to accept all documents necessary for a family violence matters hearing in an electronic format (Sec. 2).
Requires an expedited hearing when a motion for contempt is filed for violation of a restraining order (Sec. 2).
Extends legal representation for eligible indigent individuals throughout the restraining order process by means of grant funding (Sec. 15).
Title: Expands the Definition of Domestic Violence to Include Coercive Control
Vote to pass a bill that expands the definition of domestic violence to include coercive control.
Defines “domestic violence” as the following, but is not limited to (Sec. 1):
A continuous threat of present physical pain or physical injury against a family or household member;
Stalking of such family or a household member;
A pattern of threatening of such family, a household member, or a third party that intimates such family or household member; and
Coercive control.
Defines “Coercive control” as a pattern of behavior that in purpose or effect unreasonably interferes with a person’s free will and personal liberty (Sec. 1).
Expands behaviors that are classified as “coercive control” to include the following actions (Sec. 1):
Isolating the family or household member from friends, relatives, or other sources of support;
Depriving the family or household member of basic necessities;
Controlling the family or household member’s daily behavior and economic resources;
Compelling the family or household member by force, threat or intimidation based on actual or suspected immigration status;
Committing or threatening to commit cruelty to animals that intimidates the family or household member;
Forcing sex acts, or threats of a sexual nature, including, but not limited to:
Threatened acts of sexual conduct;
Threats based on a person’s sexuality; or
Threats to release sexual images.
Authorizes a family relations court to obtain the testimony of any party or child through alternative means, including, but not limited to (Sec. 3):
Videoconference;
In a room other than the courthouse; or
At another location outside the state.
Requires the Chief Court Administrator of court constructed prior to July 1, 2021 where family violence matters are heard, to provide a secure room for victims of family violence crimes that is separate from any public or private area in the courthouse (Sec. 11).
Requires a proper court officer to accept all documents necessary for a family violence matters hearing in an electronic format (Sec. 2).
Requires an expedited hearing when a motion for contempt is filed for violation of a restraining order (Sec. 2).
Extends legal representation for eligible indigent individuals throughout the restraining order process by means of grant funding (Sec. 15).
Title: Expands the Definition of Domestic Violence to Include Coercive Control