Bill aims to criminalize 'coercive control' that precedes domestic violence

It's long been known that psychological abuse and control often precedes domestic violence incidents. But is has been less clear what to do about it while protecting the rights of criminal defendants.

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed SB 1141 unanimously on Friday. It would add the term "coercive control" to the state's domestic violence laws. According to a committee analysis: "Coercive control describes an ongoing and multipronged strategy, with tactics that include manipulation, humiliation, isolation, financial abuse, stalking, gaslighting and sometimes physical or sexual abuse."

"It makes it nearly impossible for victims to escape that abuse," said SB 1141's author, Sen. Susan Rubio, D-Baldwin Park. "Control in coercive relationships increases the likelihood of homicide."

Ana Estevez testified that years of psychological abuse preceded her ex-husband's murder of their5-year-old son, an event that occurred when she tried to leave. She was followed at the hearing by the actress Evan Rachel Wood, who testified remotely that these were the strategies used by an older man she dated as a teen.

The opposition is led by California Public Defenders Association and the Family Violence Appellate Project. These groups have been trying to convince Rubio to take amendments that narrow the bill's scope and provide more concrete definitions of the behavior covered.

-- Malcolm Maclachlan