In a major step forward for survivor justice, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office has launched a groundbreaking initiative in 2025 aimed at prosecuting cases of coercive control. This bold new approach shifts the focus of domestic violence cases from single physical incidents to the pattern of abuse itself, providing a powerful new legal tool for survivors in San Jose and across the county.

Coercive control is a deliberate pattern of behavior used by an abuser to dominate and isolate a victim. Unlike a physical assault, it is often subtle and can include tactics such as:

• Financial Control: Withholding money, controlling bank accounts, or preventing a survivor from working.

• Isolation: Cutting off a survivor from friends, family, and support networks.

• Surveillance: Monitoring a survivor's phone, email, or daily activities.

• Psychological Manipulation: Intimidation, gaslighting, and threats that instill constant fear.

This initiative recognizes that these non-physical forms of abuse are just as damaging and dangerous as physical violence. By making coercive control a prosecutable offense, Santa Clara County is providing a new legal avenue for survivors who may not have physical evidence but have experienced a systematic campaign of abuse.

The prosecution initiative is built on a foundation of education and collaboration. The District Attorney's office has:

1. Trained Prosecutors and Law Enforcement: Specially trained professionals now have the tools to identify and prosecute cases based on a pattern of coercive control, not just physical evidence.
2. Partnered with Advocacy Groups: The D.A.'s office is working closely with local domestic violence organizations in San Jose to ensure survivors are connected with support services and that their cases are handled with a trauma-informed approach.
3. Prioritized a Holistic Approach: The initiative allows for the aggregation of multiple forms of evidence—digital messages, witness statements, financial records—to build a comprehensive case that a judge can understand.

For survivors in San Jose, this initiative is a game-changer. It means your experience of non-physical abuse is now more likely to be taken seriously by the legal system. It provides a new pathway to justice and a greater chance of successful prosecution. This initiative empowers survivors to step forward, knowing that the pattern of abuse they have endured is now legally recognized and prosecutable.

If you are a survivor in San Jose, this is a moment of opportunity. Your testimony, supported by evidence of a pattern of coercive control, can be the key to a successful case and a future free from abuse.

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1. What kinds of behaviors are now prosecutable under this initiative?

Behaviors such as financial control, social isolation, constant surveillance, and psychological intimidation, when part of a pattern of abuse, are now more likely to be prosecuted.

2. Do I need physical evidence to use this new law?

No. This initiative is specifically designed for cases where physical evidence may be absent. A case can be built on a pattern of digital evidence, witness statements, and documentation of a survivor's experience.

3. How does this change the process for a restraining order in Santa Clara County?

This initiative primarily focuses on criminal prosecution. However, it also strengthens a survivor’s ability to obtain a Domestic Violence Restraining Order by providing legal precedent for judges to consider patterns of coercive control.

4. Will this new initiative help me if the abuse happened before 2025?

While the initiative officially launched in 2025, prosecutors may still consider evidence of a pattern of abuse that occurred before this date to build a stronger, more comprehensive case.

5. Where can I get help to use this new law in San Jose?

You should contact a local domestic violence legal aid organization or a community-based support group in San Jose. They can provide free and confidential advice and connect you with the resources needed to navigate the legal system.

6. Is this initiative different from SB 1141?

Yes, this initiative is a local enforcement and prosecution effort by Santa Clara County. It complements the state law, SB 1141, which added "coercive control" to the legal definition of domestic violence in California.

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New Legal Resource Form Fields:

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Title: Santa Clara County’s 2025 Coercive-Control Prosecution Initiative: What It Means for Survivors in San Jose

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Status: Draft

Publish date: 2025-08-13

Locations: Santa Clara County, San Jose, California

Categories: Domestic Violence, Legal Resources, Court Updates

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• Meta Description: Learn how Santa Clara County's 2025 coercive control prosecution initiative provides new legal pathways for San Jose survivors of domestic violence, focusing on non-physical patterns of abuse.

• Keywords: Santa Clara County domestic violence, San Jose domestic violence, coercive control, prosecution initiative, legal resources for survivors, SB 1141, court updates.