Connecticut law provides a pretrial family violence education program for some people charged with family violence crimes. Eligibility and admission depend on statutory criteria and court discretion.
Last reviewed: August 20, 2026
Eligibility depends on the charge, prior history, prior use of specified programs, and other statutory limits. Certain serious charges are excluded or require a showing of good cause.
The statute provides for victim notice and an opportunity to be heard. The court may refer the matter to the family violence intervention unit and impose conditions.
Primary source reviewed August 20, 2026: General Statutes § 46b-38c, including 2026-effective amendments.
When a person satisfactorily completes the program and complies with the ordered conditions, the statute provides a path to seek dismissal and erasure of the charges.
Connecticut’s pretrial family-violence program is governed by statute and is not available in every case. Charge history, prior program use and other statutory restrictions can affect eligibility. Even when a person is eligible to apply, the court process and program requirements still matter.
A diversionary program can be valuable, but applying should not replace an examination of body-camera footage, 911 calls, witness statements, injuries, digital communications and defenses. The right objective depends on both eligibility and the strength of the case.
Participation in a program does not itself authorize contact prohibited by a criminal protective order. If family, housing or parenting circumstances require a change, modification must be addressed through the court.
When the statutory requirements are satisfied and the program is successfully completed, dismissal may be available under the governing framework. The exact process and conditions should be confirmed for the pending case and current law.
Before choosing a strategy, we want the charging document, police reports, court notices and any release or protective-order paperwork. We also want the client’s complete account while events are still fresh, including facts that may be uncomfortable or seem unimportant. From there we identify evidence that can disappear: video, messages, photographs, location information, receipts, medical records and witnesses. We compare that material with the State’s version and separate three questions: what can the State legally use, what can it actually prove, and what facts about the client and the situation matter to the best lawful resolution.
Do not delete messages, posts, photographs or other potential evidence. Do not contact witnesses to persuade them what to say, and do not discuss the facts on social media. Follow every release condition and court order exactly as written. If police or an investigator asks for an interview, additional consent or access to a device, get legal advice before making a decision.
For a first-offense case where the State appears capable of proving the charge, the Family Violence Education Program may offer substantial value. But program availability should not replace an evidence review.
If the complainant immediately retracts the allegation, photographs do not appear consistent with the claimed injuries, the client was the person who called police, or other objective evidence creates meaningful proof problems, we want to understand those issues before recommending that the client use the program.