CT Policymakers! Be a Voice for Change

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CCADV is the voice
against domestic violence across Connecticut.

 
We lead a statewide network focused on advocacy, outreach and education.
Our work transforms political, economic and social responses to end domestic violence in CT.

A key component of this work is advocating with local, state and federal policymakers to create and implement strong legislative and administrative policies that move us towards our vision of a world free from all forms of violence.

 


 

We're familiar faces in the halls of Connecticut’s Capitol building. We’ve worked closely with state lawmakers to move Connecticut to the forefront as a national leader on strong, survivor-centered laws.

 

We became the third state to explicitly address coercive control in civil restraining orders and family court matters, providing meaningful protections for the very real, non-physical violence that survivors often experience. We worked closely with our partners in law enforcement to demonstrate the value of a dominant aggressor provision to the state’s mandatory arrest law, resulting in a reduction to our historically high dual arrest rate. We defeated lobbying efforts by the NRA and ensured that firearms would be removed from the hands of abusers while under an ex parte restraining order.

We do this work every day to create a world where no person lives in fear.

 

2023 session summary

The following is a brief list of legislative successes that CCADV achieved during the 2023 session of the Connecticut General Assembly in our efforts to strengthen both statutory and administrative policy and practice that help domestic violence survivors to achieve safety and stability. For additional details on these issues and additional legislation of potential interest, please click on the summary below.
 

secure vital funding for victim services

  • CCADV joined with over 30 other VOCA-funded victim service providers to secure one-time pandemic relief funds in the amount of $13.175 million in FY24 and $20 million in FY25 to address cuts in federal VOCA funds impacting many nonprofits providing services to victims of crime, including domestic violence victims. VOCA currently funds approximately 127 direct service positions across CCADV and our 18 member organizations. This funding includes $3,772,000 annually, or $7,544,000 over the biennium, specifically for domestic violence services.
  • Maintained funding under the Department of Social Services to support domestic violence shelters, services, and child & family advocates.

enhancing the criminal-justice response

  • Established the new Domestic Violence Criminal Justice Response & Enhancement Advisory Council that includes a broad set of stakeholders to assess and advise on a variety of criminal justice-related issues with an eye towards innovative, cost-effective enhancements that meet the needs of survivors. This work will include creating uniform policies and procedures as appropriate and determining the feasibility of statewide implementation or expansion of criminal justice system best practices.

Probiting Alimony in Certain Circumstances

  • Prohibits abusers convicted of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, or certain other Class A or B felonies designated as family violence against their spouse from receiving alimony from their victims. Awards of temporary or permanent alimony made prior to such a conviction shall be terminated by the court upon motion filed by the victim/injured spouse that such spouse was subsequently convicted.

2023 Legislative Session Summary

Make Your Voice Heard
Tell policymakers how they can better protect victims + survivors of DV.

 

Past legislative
session summaries

View recent changes in state laws related to domestic violence services and survivor needs.

2022 | 2021 | NO 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014

For questions about CCADV’s policy initiatives, please contact Liza Andrews, Vice President of Government & Public Relations, at (959) 202-5003 or landrews@ctcadv.org.