Bethel Lawmaker Advances Bill To Improve Domestic Violence Case Tracking In Connecticut

BETHEL, CT — State legislation aimed at improving how domestic violence cases are tracked across Connecticut’s criminal justice system is moving forward after action by the Judiciary Committee.

The committee this week raised a bill introduced by State Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan, a Democrat who represents Bethel and part of Danbury, that would establish a consistent identifier for domestic violence cases across state agencies and strengthen reporting and oversight mechanisms so cases can be tracked from arrest through disposition and sentencing.

According to Allie-Brennan, the proposal grew out of work he led in 2024 on the Connecticut Sentencing Commission, where he helped create a subcommittee to study sentencing and outcomes in domestic-violence-related homicides. During that review, the subcommittee found gaps in how domestic violence cases are identified and tracked from arrest through prosecution and sentencing, making it difficult to evaluate outcomes or determine whether justice is applied equitably.

The issue has personal significance for Allie-Brennan, who grew up in Bethel with Emily Todd, whose death in a domestic violence incident affected the community. Todd’s mother, Jenn Lawlor, has since advocated for changes within the criminal justice system.

“I grew up with Emily,” Allie-Brennan said. “Her loss shook our town to its core. As policymakers, we have a responsibility to ensure our systems are transparent and accountable. If we cannot clearly see how cases move through the system, including charging decisions, plea agreements, and sentencing outcomes, then we cannot honestly say whether justice is being applied consistently.”

Lawmakers previously debated whether enhanced sentencing classifications or special circumstances should apply in certain domestic violence homicide cases, discussions that reflected differing views on mandatory sentencing. Allie-Brennan and others concluded that improving transparency and data integrity should precede broader policy changes, according to the release.

“This bill reflects a simple but essential principle,” Allie-Brennan said. “Before we argue about how to change sentencing policy, we need to ensure we are working from accurate, complete, and connected data. The data should guide us.”

The proposed legislation does not create a new criminal offense, change penalties or sentencing law, affect Title 53a, or modify family violence procedures or victim services under Section 46b. Instead, it focuses on improving transparency and accountability through consistent reporting.

Jenn Lawlor, mother of Emily Todd and co-founder of Violent Crime Survivors, said families affected by intimate partner violence seek consistent accountability and equitable outcomes within the justice system.

“When my daughter Emily was murdered, my family’s world was destroyed,” Lawlor said. “Families like mine deserve proof, not promises, that the system treats every victim with equal seriousness and delivers equitable outcomes, so that no life is ever valued less than another."

Michele Voigt, co-founder of Violent Crime Survivors, said the organization has tracked domestic violence homicide cases through media reports, court proceedings and communication with families due to what she described as gaps in systemwide data. She said the group supports comprehensive identification and tagging of domestic violence cases at each stage of the criminal justice process.

The bill will next move to a public hearing before the Judiciary Committee.