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STAMFORD, Conn. State Rep. Gerry Fox III has been honored by the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence for his continued support, according to a press release. The Stamford Democrat was the sponsor of a bill that went into effect Saturday, Oct. 1.
Stemming domestic violence along with protecting and supporting victims is an ongoing challenge, Fox, House chair of the legislatures Judiciary Committee, said in the release, adding that 30 percent of criminal court dockets involve domestic violence. This year much of our focus was on improving law enforcement and victim services.
Fox is one of the First 100 honorees, the release said. The coalition is honoring 100 men across the state who have made a commitment to ending domestic violence.
In addition to his work on the new law, Fox is a member of the Speaker of the House's Task Force on Domestic Violence. Over the past two years, the task force has been responsible for strengthening laws to help victims, the release said.
Following are provisions in the new domestic violence law, according to the release:
? Increasing access to restraining and protective orders;
? Strengthening regulatory authority over bail bond agents and addressing undercutting;
? Maintaining funding for 24/7 staffing at the states domestic violence emergency shelters.
? Improving information sharing between state agencies.
? Allowing victims who have experienced a pattern of threatening or stalking to request a restraining order and clarifying that people of any age, including teens, can request a restraining order to protect them from a partner who has subjected them to abuse.
? Requiring offenders to surrender their firearms to police or sell them to a federally licensed firearms dealer if the offender is barred from possessing them due to a restraining or protective order.
? Providing restitution to the families of victims of domestic violence like that provided to families of other crime victims.
? Fixing a contradiction in the statutes that exempts people in dating relationships from arrest when a domestic violence crime is alleged to have been committed, so that police have clear authority to make such arrests.
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