@TRAC

We are a group of survivors, advocates, and organizations in MA seeking to expand legal protections for victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

[@TRAC @TRACcoalition]

We are excited to announce the launch of TOGETHER RISING ABOVE COERCION, @traccoalition to support legislation that would address coercive control as abuse and give those affected the opportunity for legal recourse in Massachusetts. @janedoe @custodypeace @onemomsbattle #coercion

[@TRAC @TRACcoalition]

COERCIVE CONTROL LEGISLATION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES BOTH CHAMBERS!

A huge THANK YOU to @TeamTram @rephiggins, and @senmikemoore for sponsoring this bill and supporting survivors of domestic abuse and coercive control in MA. #coercivecontrol #mapoli

[@TRAC @TRACcoalition]

“Every day in courtrooms, victims are trying to free themselves from the coercive grasp of abusive partners who feel emboldened by the law's inability to stop abuse that is not physical.” https://t.co/ceky8KEuQu #mapoli #coercivecontrol

[Betsy Keller @BetsyKellerPR]

Denial of Family Violence in Court: An Empirical Analysis and Path Forward for Family Law @profjoanmeier @NationalNOW @nfvlcgwu @NCJFCJ
"After that [her husband tried to kill her], her husband was able to win joint custody."
https://t.co/6sSJGvpSMl

[@TRAC @TRACcoalition]

Thank you to our PARTNERS 💜@janedoe @LWV @MassLawReform @MassAdvocacy @NewHopeInc @AlianzaDV Asian Task Force Shaquera’s Story @SalasinProject Mimi Movement supporting bills: (H.1547/S.1077), and (H.1399/S.1079) #mapoli #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth

[@TRAC @TRACcoalition]

DV can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, psychological, or technological actions or threats of actions or other patterns of coercive behavior that influence another person within an intimate partner relationship. https://t.co/PEtf02Hwk2 #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth

[D @danielle2u]

UN: Urgent reform needed to shield women and children from violence during custody battles https://t.co/M6NJEH3Y9a

Major international conference on this issue today in Brazil - session details & to tune in see @CpiVoz

@UN @UNHumanRights @UNSRVAW @safe_parents @SheraFamily

[Natalie Page @NataliePage]

The #FamilyCourt needs to understand that #DomesticAbuse is a catastrophic failure of parenting.
Children are victims, too.
Abuse is not cured upon separation. Yet the court still forces children into unsafe contact with a parent who is unlikely to be rehabilitated.

[@TRAC @TRACcoalition]

“Abusers strive for absolute power over all aspects of their victims' lives.” @fontes_ph #coercivecontrol #postseparationabuse #childabuse #domesticabuse #mapoli

https://t.co/S4z1ZHXw05

[@TRAC @TRACcoalition]

“We want to ensure the courts recognize these manipulative behaviors to allow protections of survivors, victims, and their families.” @TeamTram H.1547 S.1077 An Act Improving Protections Relative to Domestic Violence #coercivecontrol #mapoli

[@TRAC @TRACcoalition]

“This bill allows judges to put protections into place, limiting motions unless approved by a judge. It limits survivors having to go to court time and time again to face their abusers.” @repblais #mapoli #litigationabuse #massachusetts

[@TRAC @TRACcoalition]

The lack of accountability by the courts can have an emboldening effect on Vexatious Litigants, which empowers perpetrators, resulting in an escalation of their abuse post-separation. ⁦@TeamTram⁩ ⁦@custodypeace⁩ ⁦@repblais⁩ #legalabuse https://t.co/99EfKfifYk

[@TRAC @TRACcoalition]

#mapoli

[@TRAC @TRACcoalition]

TRAC is asking legislators to support two important pieces of legislation to protect survivors from #COERCIVECONTROL and #LITIGATIONABUSE - two forms of abuse that have devastating consequences on survivors, children, and their protective parents.

[@TRAC @TRACcoalition]

Patricia Fersch, Contributor for Forbes highlights what, in practice, litigation abuse consists of and what so many survivor victims are confronted with when they decide leave their abusive partners.

https://t.co/QHk7vHo5n9 #litigationabuse #coercivecontrol

[Dr. Christine Marie Cocchiola @coercivecontrol]

Yesterday I learned of a mom and her children who are now living protected bc a judge believed that there was a pervasive pattern of coercive control by the father. Things are shifting. 🙏🏻

[@TRAC @TRACcoalition]

“Because as we have all heard today, the goal (of the coercive controller) is always revenge at all costs. The violence, all too often, is the final cost.” -Dr. Cocchiola, MA State House Testimony #coercivecontrol #mapoli #postseparationabuse #domesticviolence @coercivecontrol

[Dr. Christine Marie Cocchiola @coercivecontrol]

These are NOT “high conflict” cases. These are ABUSE - cases. One person is drawn towards conflict (Rosenfeld, et 2019). The stage is set. The [family] court their stage. It’s not hard to discern who the abuser is: Who has been historically and is exerting this “power over?”

[@TRAC @TRACcoalition]

“Abusive litigation occurs when a perpetrator uses our legal system to control, harass, intimidate, coerce, impoverish survivors. In effect, abusers can turn our courtrooms into a space where they can continue their abusive behavior, long after a survivor leaves.” Rep. N. Blais

[@TRAC @TRACcoalition]

Grateful to have the support of #coercivecontrol advocate and expert, Dr. Cocchiola @coercivecontrol at the MA State House. ❤️ 💪🏼 #abusivelitigation #mapoli

[Dr. Christine Marie Cocchiola @coercivecontrol]

Yesterday I sat in MA State House to testify on CC legislation & listened to many stories of victims harmed by coercive controllers. I can see how hard it is to believe that this terrorism could be happening in people’s homes. Unless you’ve experienced - it is hard to fathom. 😔

[@TRAC @TRACcoalition]

Your voices are POWERFUL even when you feel powerless.

We see you. We support you. ❤️ Thank you! @MassLawReform @repblais @TeamTram @janedoe @coercivecontrol @custodypeace #coercivecontrol #litigationabuse @Rep_Higgins