CCADV Press Releases

Today the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic (CCADV) announces that Karen Jarmoc, its Chief Executive Officer, will be leaving the organization after nearly ten years of leadership. Jarmoc will leave CCADV in mid-December to take on the position of Assistant Vice President Sustainability Leader at The Hartford in Hartford, Connecticut. At The Hartford, Jarmoc will be a part of leading sustainability matters in such areas as environmental stewardship, diversity and inclusion, social responsibility, corporate ethics and governance practices.

Citing a drop in family violence dual arrest rates of between 7-11%, Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) today released its latest report highlighting the positive impact of Connecticut’s new dominant aggressor family violence arrest law. The law, which guides law enforcement responding to a family violence call to arrest only the person who poses the most serious ongoing threat, has been in effect since January 1, 2019. From 2014 through 2018, a full five years before the dominant aggressor law went into effect, Connecticut’s statewide dual arrest rate stood between 17% and 26% according the CT Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and the CT Judicial Branch. By the end of 2019, after one full year of the new law being in place, the state’s dual arrest rate stood between 10% and 16% according to those same agencies – a marked improvement.

The tragic deaths of Luz Figueroa in Willimantic and Jennifer Brelsford in Bridgeport this month mark the state’s sixth and seventh intimate partner violence homicides this year. Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) sends our thoughts and prayers to their family and friends. “We are deeply saddened that two more lives have been senselessly taken and we want to remind everyone that advocates are available 24/7 to assist those who are feeling unsafe in their relationship,” said Karen Jarmoc, chief executive officer of CCADV. “Abusive, controlling behaviors can be subtle but escalate over time. Whether you have questions, need resources, or just want someone who will listen without judgement, our advocates are available via call, text, chat, and email to speak with you in whatever way you are comfortable.”

The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) is today urging lawmakers to permanently open the door for online restraining order applications when they convene in special session later this fall. An Executive Order issued by Governor Ned Lamont in early April to allow for an online process – for the very first time - has validated the need and efficacy of this approach with nearly 700 applications filed with the assistance of a domestic violence advocate during this period. Yet, despite these unprecedented efforts to create an efficient online process, the total number of restraining order applications filed in the state fell over 50% during April and May, prior to courts beginning to re-open in June.

The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) is deeply saddened to learn that a woman in Middletown was the apparent victim of an intimate partner homicide on Monday. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends. Identified as a “domestic violence call” by law enforcement, this appears to be the first intimate partner homicide to occur in Connecticut during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the third overall intimate partner homicide in 2020, all of which appear to have been stabbings. With the first two homicides this year occurring in January, this third homicide marks the longest period (137 days/4 months, 3 weeks) between intimate partner homicides in Connecticut since 2012 (123 days/4 months, 1 week). Connecticut has averaged just under 14 intimate partner homicides annually since 2000.