![]() ![]() ![]() The woman has joined other advocates for survivors of domestic violence who are seeking to change Massachusetts law to let a judge issue a restraining order when there is a pattern of “coercive control” or technological abuse.īills sponsored by Representatives Natalie Higgins and Tram Nguyen and Senator Michael Moore would let a judge issue a restraining order based on “a pattern of conduct that has the purpose or effect of substantially restricting an individual’s safety or autonomy through intimidation, isolation, implicit or explicit threats, or by compelling compliance.” The bill gives examples including repeatedly humiliating someone, isolating them from friends and family, controlling their finances, damaging property, abusing pets, or threatening to report them to immigration authorities. I didn’t have a restraining order, so a year and a half into the divorce process, I experienced another assault.” If the law recognized other types of abusive behavior, the woman said, “I think I would have had a restraining order from day one. ![]() But under state law, a person can only get a restraining order if there is a threat of physical harm or sexual assault. ![]()
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