State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia announced today that a bill (HB 5548) based on the House Speaker’s Task Force on Domestic Violence’s recommendations passed the Connecticut House of Representatives unanimously.
A key part of the bill gives police officers new tools for responding to incidents of domestic violence, including a requirement that municipal police departments develop and implement operational guidelines for arrest policies.
The departments would set a uniform standard, but are given flexibility to tailor implementation to fit their departments.
The bill also establishes a Family Violence Model Policy Governing Council to update the model policy going forward and review relevant data.
“This bill makes things easier for victims in what can be a harrowing and traumatic experience. It also strengthens the tools needed to punish offenders,” Gentile said. “Enhancing the tools of the legal system, particularly in the area of protective orders, is critical to the ultimate success of these efforts. Locally, The Umbrella program located in Ansonia will benefit from the additional tools.”
Victims are often confused about the appropriate place to report electronic and telephonic violations of restraining and protective orders. The legislation will allow victims to report violations in the town where they reside, where they receive the communication or where the communication was initiated. The bill also makes it easier for victims to get restraining orders against people who pose a threat to them.
Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, who created the task force, said, “When a victim has worked up the courage to call police, to request a restraining order or to leave her home, we want to make sure that services are in place to support them. In addition, because we owe it to victims to train police in best practices so they can respond to calls speedily and appropriately, we give police officers new tools for responding to domestic violence incidents. This bill gives new support to victims, police officers, advocates and other front-line service providers.”
The legislation also permits judges to issue restraining orders for up to one year. Currently the maximum length of a restraining order is six months. Donovan said this change will reduce stress and risk to victims who will have to return to court and interface with their offenders less frequently.
The bill also requires that courts share protective orders with schools that victims attend, upon request of a victim. Current law requires that orders be shared with the police departments in the town where the victim lives and works and the town where the defendant lives, but it does not require that schools or campus police are notified of an order.
Although threatening is often a precursor to serious violence, threatening with a firearm is currently a misdemeanor in Connecticut. This bill would make threats that involve the use of a firearm a felony crime. It also strengthens the definition of stalking to ensure that stalking incidents—including digital stalking—are appropriately punished.
The above release was provided by Gentile's office.
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