BEVERLY – Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker was a keynote speaker at a Community Conversation forum held at The Cabot theater on Wednesday, Jan. 15 focusing on the addition of coercive control to the state’s domestic violence statute. Coercive control, Tucker said, is defined as “a pattern of behavior intended to threaten, intimidate, harass, isolate, control, coerce or compel compliance of a family or household member that causes that family or household member to reasonably fear physical harm or have a reduced sense of physical safety or autonomy.”
Tucker was joined by Massachusetts State Senator Joan Lovely, Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC) Executive Director Sara Stanley, Beverly Police Department Domestic Violence Advocate Ross Steinborn, and Assistant District Attorney Hunter Wildrick Melo.
“The addition of coercive control language makes obtaining a restraining order available to a wider range of people,” Stanley said, not solely those being physically victimized.
“It’s important that the judicial system understands the dynamics of the cycle of violence,” Tucker said in saluting the legislature for adopting the new language and extending the statute of limitations, which he said is “critically important, particularly when it comes to rape and domestic violence.”
Melo noted that the coercive control language also “adds teeth to a court order by letting people know they can potentially get arrested if they violate it.”
HAWC provides a domestic abuse helpline, emergency shelter, legal services, advocacy and counseling services to more than 2,500 families in the North Shore area each year. The Cabot’s Community Conversations series features free monthly events hosted at the historic theater that address community wellbeing through education, experiential arts, social connection, and public forums for important social issues. The Office of Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker ensures public safety for the people of the 34 cities and towns in Essex County, Mass.
