CT SB00455

Chief Court Administrator shall provide secure rooms in each court handling family matters or family violence matters, separate from areas used by defendants/respondents and their associates, and separate from the state's attorney's office, effective July 1, 2020.

Family violence victim advocates employed by domestic violence agencies and trained in at least 20 hours of instruction shall be permitted to provide services in Family Division courts and geographical area courts in each judicial district, and may stand next to victims during court proceedings without speaking on their behalf.

Victim advocates shall receive copies of police reports from the state's attorney and law enforcement agencies upon request to perform their advocacy duties.

"Family violence crime" is defined as any crime involving an act of family violence against a family or household member, including violations of restraining order statutes when issued for acts of family violence.

Courts shall not impose financial conditions of release on persons charged with misdemeanors unless the charge is a family violence crime, the person requests it, or the court finds specific risks to appearance or public safety; persons charged with family violence crimes face enhanced consideration of risks to victims when determining conditions of release.