In the case of New York City restaurateur Sarma Melngailis, the tactics allegedly used by her “Bad Vegan” husband are no joke—and more states across the country are recognizing “coercive control” under domestic violence law.
Author: Amy Polacko
Amy Polacko is a divorce and post-separation abuse coach and award-winning journalist who was part of the Pulitzer Prize winning team covering the TWA Flight 800 crash for Newsday. She is the co-author of “Framed: Women in the Family Court Underworld.”
The “Men’s Hotline”: Designated Call Centers for Potential Abusers—A Revolutionary Idea That Seems To Be Working
The largest family violence center in Texas is in the testing phase of an “anger hotline” where potential abusers can get peer coaching when in distress. Any full-fledged “Men’s Hotline” would be a first in the United States. Other countries—like the United Kingdom and Israel—already have designated call centers for male victims and potential abusers. It was a revolutionary idea … that seems to be working.
Maid’s Crucial Message: Emotional Abuse *Is* Abuse. Is America Ready to Acknowledge It?
Maid sheds light on the crucial issue of emotional abuse and coercive control— exposing viewers to the multiple systemic reasons why it takes a victim of domestic abuse seven attempts before she escapes for good.
Alex tries out four powerful words for the first time as she’s packing to move to the shelter: “Emotional abuse is abuse.” She said it to America. Are we ready to listen?
Us Too: Cuomo’s Departure Highlights Need for Coercive Control Laws in U.S.
Andrew Cuomo went out swinging on his last day in office—insisting he’s being railroaded even as the moving vans rolled out.
I honestly don’t care about his claims. What I do care about is whether the outgoing New York governor’s sexual harassment scandal will prompt more states to finally enact laws against coercive control—a form of domestic bullying that can cause psychological trauma.