Thank you for stopping by! This petition serves four purposes; the details are listed below, and the bullet points are at the top. If you have anything to add, I want your voice to be heard; please do not hesitate to leave a comment.

• Create a free public access Conviction Search Engine in the State of Connecticut that displays information about Domestic/Intimate Partner Violence offenders. (Proactive) 
• To define and create a law for DV/IPV Murder. (Serious Consequence)
• Create a law that requires annual domestic/intimate partner violence and coercive control training for judges, mediators, and counselors involved in the court system and revisit child support enforcement laws. This is an effort to STOP post-separation abuse (Proactive)
• Child Support laws (Serious Consequence)

 

Online Violent Offender Search Engine

The creation of a free public access Online Violent Offender Search engine on a website maintained by the State of Connecticut Department of Public Safety. This would provide public access to records of Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Violence convictions. Public access to these records allows individuals to see if another person has a history of violence against intimate partners or family. We would know who is on the registry and if they committed these crimes. The Department of Public Safety already has this information, and it needs to be made available to the public.

Why is this important?

This online search engine would break down a paywall so everyone can access it for free, which is extremely important given the amount of time individuals spend online meeting people, dating, etc. This would be a proactive move.

This law has already been passed in Texas:

https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/HB5202/2023​

https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-to-launch-first-of-its-kind-database-to-prevent-intimate-partner-violence/

Link to the offender search engine in Texas:

https://publicsite.dps.texas.gov/ConvictionNameSearch/Application/ViolentOffender

Define and create a law for Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Murder

Currently, in Connecticut, domestic violence can result in a murder or manslaughter charge if the victim dies. Those convicted of manslaughter face a minimum five-year sentence, which is extendable to 40 years, and those convicted of felony murder face a minimum 25-year sentence, which can be extended to life. It is imperative that Connecticut defines and creates a crime for domestic violence and Intimate Partner murders. The crime of Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner murder needs to be a Class A felony. Upon recognition of domestic violence and intimate partner murder as serious crimes, victims would receive greater protection and support, and perpetrators would be held accountable. A life sentence is automatically imposed on these convictions, just as in other parts of the country (Allie-Brennan, 2023).

H.B. No. 6431 was proposed last year

Mandatory Annual Training

Individuals who leave abusive marriages and/or relationships are further subjected to abuse via post-separation abuse. This is inclusive of but not limited to financial abuse when the perpetrator misuses litigation to drain the safe parent/victim financially, uses the court system to control and/or harass the victim/safe parent, and seeks custody changes only as a means of punishment, revenge, or control. It is imperative that judges, counselors, and mediators who have a role in the court system in the state of Connecticut participate in annual continuing education courses so they can identify abusive/coercive control tactics. This will help judges, mediators, and counselors make well-informed decisions regarding the best interest of all parties more importantly children, if they are involved.

Child Support

In line with the financial abuse mentioned above, we also see co-parents *intentionally* withholding support. Many times, the nonpaying co-parent is given a certain amount of time to come up with a portion of the support owed and report back to the courthouse. Supporting children is not a game.

If the withholding parent is found to have had the money (via bank statements, etc), the withholding parent needs to be jailed, not fined, and not given a time frame to produce a portion of the back support.

Required to update the court within 30 days of employment/income changes - we often see the coparent changing support if their income decreases, if it increases the support needs to be adjusted as well. This needs to be a law.

We need real and IMMEDIATE consequences to stop this abuse-

Refer to proposed bill H.B. No. 5315 Session Year 2015

 

If you are safe and feel comfortable doing so please share your reason for signing this petition in the "Reasons for signing" area.

 

 

Reference:

Allie-Brennan, R. (2023, May 19). Raghib Allie-Brennan: In CT, domestic violence and intimate partner murder should be felonies. Hartford Courant. https://www.courant.com/2023/05/19/raghib-allie-brennan-in-ct-domestic-violence-and-intimate-partner-murder-should-be-felonies/

 
 
Connecticut Statistics
(statistics from CT.gov)

In Connecticut, there are approximately 20,000 family violence incidents annually resulting in at least one arrest.

In regards to the Intimate Partner Violence reports, sixty-eight percent (68%) were served through the investigation track.

Studies of IPV frequently indicate high rates of alcohol and other drug use by offenders during abuse.  Not only do offenders tend to abuse drugs and alcohol, but IPV also increases the probability that victims will use alcohol and drugs to cope with abuse. Consistently over the last 13 years, the number and percent of accepted reports that include allegations of intimate partner violence from calendar year 2000 through calendar year 2014 remain consistent at approximately 21%.  This reflects only the reports that are received and accepted with allegations of IPV and does not reflect the additional instances of IPV discovered through assessment.
In 2014, approximately 48% of reports with an IPV indicator were substantiated.   
 

 
United States IPV Statistics:
(statistics from The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)

 
Every 9 seconds in the US a woman is assaulted or beaten.
In the United States, an average of 20 people are physically abused by intimate partners every minute.  This equates to more than 10 million abuse victims annually.
1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been physically abused by an intimate partner.
1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men have been severely physically abused by an intimate partner.
1 in 7 women and 1 in 18 men have been stalked. Stalking causes the target to fear she/he or someone close to her/him will be harmed or killed.
The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%.
Domestic violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime.
Domestic violence is most common among women between the ages of 18-24.
19% of domestic violence involves a weapon.
Domestic victimization is correlated with a higher rate of depression and suicidal behavior.
Only 34% of people who are injured by intimate partners receive medical care for their injuries.