People from all walks of life, men and women, married couple and same-sex partners, get arrested for domestic violence.

Family violence means a crime as defined in section 53a-24 of the Connecticut General Statutes which, in addition to its other elements, contains as an element thereof an act of family violence to a family member and shall not include acts by parents or guardians disciplining minor children unless such acts constitute abuse." Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-38a (3) (2003).

What is Connecticut Domestic Violence?

In Connecticut, family violence "means an incident resulting in physical harm, bodily injury or assault, or an act of threatened violence that constitutes fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault between family or household members. Verbal abuse or argument shall not constitute family violence unless there is present danger and the likelihood that physical violence will occur." Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-38a (1) (2003). Domestic violence can be an allegation of physical violence causing minor injuries, or just a possibility of injury, threats, restraining order violations, and stalking.

Who can be involved in a Connecticut Domestic Violence Case?

Connecticut Domestic Violence charges include violence against a spouse, a past or present boyfriend or girlfriend, or family members. A family or household member "means (A) spouses, former spouses; (B) parents and their children; (C) persons eighteen years of age or older related by blood or marriage; (D) persons sixteen years of age or older other than those persons in subparagraph (C) presently residing together or who have resided together; (E) persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they are or have been married or have lived together at any time; and (F) persons in, or have recently been in, a dating relationship." Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-38a (2) (2003).

Mandatory Arrests by Officers

Whenever a police officer determines upon speedy information that a family violence crime . . . except a family violence crime involving a dating relationship, has been committed within such officer's jurisdiction, such officer shall arrest the person or persons suspected of its commission and charge such person or persons with the appropriate crime. The decision to arrest and charge shall not (1) be dependent on the specific consent of the victim, (2) consider the relationship of the parties or (3) be based solely on a request by the victim." Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-38b(a) (2003). The Prosecutor charges most cases involving serious injuries as felonies. You don't have to actually break the law to get arrested, it is enough that the police have probable cause to believe you committed a crime.

The Truth About Connecticut Domestic Violence/ CT Domestic Violence

Minor physical injuries count in a domestic violence case. Nobody should ever suffer any violence whatsoever at the hands of their spouse, family member, boyfriend or girlfriend. No matter what one person says to another person, or how heated a verbal argument, it is against the law to respond to words with physical force. The prosecution will seek to introduce evidence of prior domestic violence incidents whether or not the incidents resulted in convictions.

Before a domestic argument reaches the point where emotions are too high, leaving the presence of your partner for a cooling off period is the only thing to do. Do not leave repeated telephone messages for a person or call them at work without their permission. Such calls can lead to criminal prosecution. Even isolated incidents of waiting at a place you know your partner is going to be, leaving letters or presents for them, or following their car in your car just to talk to them in person can result in your arrest for stalking. Many people in relationships walk a thin line between "showing they care" and criminal conduct.

What happens when a wife or girlfriend hits first, her partner holds her to restrain her, and when a neighbor hears the noise and calls the police the woman has accidental bruises from a fall or where her partner grabbed her in self-defense? The police then arrest one of them and put them in jail to end the situation. Most times the man goes to jail. The partner who started the physical fight can rarely say anything to the police to stop them from making the arrest. The partner who is labeled the victim has little control over getting the charges dropped.