By Mark Antonini, President & CEO, The Center for Family Justice
As Domestic Violence Awareness Month begins, Connecticut faces a sobering reality: nearly one-third of all homicides in our state are related to domestic violence.
According to a state report released earlier this year, domestic violence accounted for approximately 31% of all homicides in Connecticut in 2025. While the state’s overall murder rate has declined, domestic violence homicides have remained relatively stable. As a result, domestic violence now represents a larger share of the violence that continues to impact our communities.
Behind that statistic are lives lost, families forever changed, and countless warning signs that often go unseen.
The report documented 15,750 domestic and family violence incidents involving more than 16,400 victims across Connecticut in 2025. Nearly 68% of victims were female, most between the ages of 25 and 44, while approximately 71% of offenders were male. Equally concerning, dating violence has increased by 55% over the past decade, and incidents involving teen dating violence rose nearly 23% between 2024 and 2025.
These numbers confirm what advocates, educators, healthcare providers, and law enforcement professionals have long known: domestic violence is not a private family matter. It is a public health issue, a safety issue, an economic issue, and a community issue.
At The Center for Family Justice, we work every day with survivors and their children as they navigate fear, trauma, uncertainty, and the difficult path toward safety. Many face barriers that make seeking help incredibly challenging, including financial dependence, housing insecurity, isolation, and concerns for their children’s well-being. For many survivors, leaving an abusive relationship can be one of the most dangerous moments in their lives.
One of the most alarming findings in the state’s report is that most domestic violence homicide victims had no previously documented history within the domestic violence system. In other words, many victims never came to the attention of service providers or law enforcement before tragedy occurred.
This reality reminds us that prevention and early intervention matter. It also reminds us that domestic violence cannot be addressed by law enforcement alone. Schools, healthcare providers, employers, faith communities, community organizations, family members, friends, and neighbors all have a role to play in recognizing risk factors, responding to warning signs, and connecting individuals to support.
Yet at the very moment demand for services remains high; Connecticut’s domestic violence response system is facing a serious funding crisis.
For years, victim service organizations have relied on federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding to support lifesaving programs and services. That funding has declined dramatically, while pandemic-era relief funding has expired. The result is a growing gap between the needs of survivors and the resources available to help them.
The consequences are already being felt. The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence has reduced its number of full-time advocates, and organizations across the state are being forced to do more with less. Fewer advocates mean fewer survivors receiving safety planning, court advocacy, housing assistance, counseling, and support at the exact time they need it most.
This is not simply a nonprofit funding issue. It is a public safety issue.
We cannot continue to sound the alarm about domestic violence while allowing the services survivors depend upon to erode. If Connecticut is serious about reducing violence, protecting children, and preventing future domestic violence deaths, we must ensure that survivor services remain accessible and sustainably funded. Federal leaders must restore and strengthen victim assistance funding and state leaders should act to help fill critical gaps before more services are lost.
The cost of inaction is simply too high.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month is about more than statistics. Behind every number is a person, a family, and a future.
If nearly one-third of Connecticut’s homicides are linked to domestic violence, none of us can afford to view it as someone else’s problem.
At The Center for Family Justice, we remain committed to standing with survivors, supporting families, and working to prevent abuse before it begins. But lasting change requires all of us. Together, we can ensure survivors are heard, services remain available, and every person has the opportunity to live free from violence and fear.
Because awareness without action will never be enough.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact The Center for Family Justice’s 24-hour hotline at 203-334-6154 or visit centerforfamilyjustice.org.
Help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
