Jennifers' Law is a law in the U.S. state of Connecticut that expands the definition of domestic violence to include "coercive control". The law is named for two women, both victims of domestic violence: Jennifer Farber Dulos and Jennifer Magnano.[1]

Jennifer Dulos

Jennifer Dulos has been missing since May 24, 2019.[2] Dulos disappeared in the middle of divorce and child custody proceedings which included allegations of abusive behavior by her then-husband, Fotos Dulos.[3] This custody battle had been ongoing for two years and a hearing had been scheduled to take place concerning the safety of the couple's five children.[4] Fotos was later arrested for her murder but committed suicide, eight months after her disappearance, via carbon monoxide asphyxiation before a pretrial emergency bond hearing. [5]

Jennifer Magnano

Jennifer Magnano was fatally shot, in a murder-suicide by her estranged husband Scott, in front of their children on August 23, 2007.[6] Scott had been ordered to stay away from the house where Jennifer and their three children lived.[6] Similar to the Dulos case, this also occurred while the couple were in the midst of divorce and child custody disputes.[6] Magnano's (now adult) children helped push for the passage of the law named after her.[7]

History

The bill was originally introduced in the Covid-19-shortened 2020 session of the Connecticut General Assembly and was re-introduced in March of 2021 by state Sen. Alex Kasser (D-Greenwich).[1] A number of organizations and domestic abuse survivors, including Evan Rachel Wood, testified in favor of the bill and recounted their own experiences with the abuse of power and control by their domestic partners had affected them.[1] The bill was signed into law on June 28, 2021, by Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont.[2] Senator Kasser would later reveal that she was also a victim of the type of abuse that the law targeted.[8]

Provisions

The law expanded the state's definition of domestic violence to include coercive control, which was defined as:[9]

a pattern of behavior toward a person who is, or has been, an intimate partner or family or household member ... which causes fear or harm to such person or restricts such person's freedom of action.

Examples of behavior that the law identifies as coercive control include not merely physical violence or the threat of physical violence but also:[9]

According to Suzanne Adam, the executive director of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center of Stamford, Connecticut, the law also makes coercive control grounds for restraining orders and other protections in family relations matters brought to the Superior Courts and establishes grants for persons with low incomes applying for restraining orders.[10] It also makes a number of other changes that are intended to assist people who utilize the courts for protection against abusers.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Murdock, Zach (24 Mar 2021). "Survivors of domestic violence urge Connecticut lawmakers to pass reforms named for Jennifer Farber Dulos, Jennifer Magnano". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  2. 1 2 Agogliati, Mike (28 Jun 2021). "Lamont signs "Jennifer's Law" expanding domestic violence definition". WFSB News. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  3. ↑ Jacobo, Julia (30 May 2019). "Connecticut mother of 5 Jennifer Dulos missing amid custody battle with estranged husband". ABC News. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  4. ↑ Laguarda, Ignacio (29 May 2019). "Missing New Canaan woman involved in long custody dispute". CT Post. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  5. ↑ Fieldstadt, Elisha; Madani, Doha (31 Jan 2020). "Fotis Dulos, charged with killing his estranged wife, dies 2 days after suicide attempt". NBC News. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 Talit, Amy V. (25 Aug 2007). "Police investigate murder-suicide". Middletown Press. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  7. ↑ David Magnano, Emily Magnano, Jessica Rosenbeck (7 Jun 2021). Children of Woman Slain by Her Husband Fight for 'Jennifer's Law' in Connecticut (online video). Inside Edition. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  8. ↑ Pazniokas, Mark (22 Jun 2021). "Citing divorce fight, Alex Kasser resigns from the CT Senate". CT Mirror.
  9. 1 2 "An Act Concerning Court Proceedings Involving Allegations Of Coercive Control Occurring Between Family Or Household Members". Raised Bill No. No. 1060 of 2021 (PDF). Connecticut General Assembly.
  10. ↑ Adam, Suzanne (12 June 2021). "Opinion: 'Jennifer's Law' gives judges more power to halt domestic violence in CT". Stamford Advocate. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  11. ↑ Office of Legislative Research (19 May 2021). OLR Bill Analysis sSB 1091 (File 617, as amended by Senate "A") (PDF) (Report). Connecticut General Assembly. p. 1. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
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