Episode 20
Episode 20: Linking Coercive Control to Lethality: A Research Perspective with Donna King
This is your go-to Podcast, where we help parents navigate the complexities of family life. Hosted by Ali Kessler of Greyson’s Choice, we’ll cover everything from understanding domestic violence to navigating the legal system, finding the right therapists, life hacks, family law, mental health, custody battles, and how to protect children in dangerous situations.
In this episode of Grey Minds Think Alike, host Ali interviews Donna King, the President and Director of the Victims Safe Harbor Foundation. Donna discusses her journey into legal advocacy, sparked by her own 21-year litigation experience due to coercive control in her first marriage. She explains the work of Victims Safe Harbor, a nonprofit providing legal services and education for victims of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and child abuse. Donna also delves into the findings of her book 'Voices of Intimate Partner Homicide,' emphasizing the link between coercive control tactics and lethality. The episode highlights the importance of legal and judicial education and advocacy for incorporating coercive control into domestic violence definitions.
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:55 Donna King's Background and Journey
02:56 Understanding Coercive Control
05:16 Legal Battles and Advocacy
07:49 Victim Safe Harbor Foundation
19:39 Research and Findings on Coercive Control
43:20 Final Thoughts and Resources
About Ali Kessler: Ali Kessler is a writer, marketing professional, passionate parent advocate, and founder of Greyson’s Choice, a 501(c)(3) created to raise awareness about the risk of domestic abuse on children. Greyson’s Choice was founded by Ali Kessler in memory of her sweet, vibrant, and fearless 4.5-year-old son, Greyson, who was murdered by his biological father in a murder-suicide during an unsupervised, court-approved visit in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, in 2021. This came just hours after her petition for a domestic violence injunction was denied by a Broward County judge, citing that the “petitioner has failed to allege any overt acts by the respondent which would constitute domestic violence under Florida Statute.”
Ali’s advocacy efforts culminated in successfully passing Greyson’s Law during the 2023 legislative session. This bill now requires the court to consider threats against ex-partners or spouses when making child visitation and custody determinations in the court, expanding to include the following factors: evidence of domestic violence, whether a parent in the past or currently has reasonable cause to believe that they or a minor child is, or has been in imminent danger of becoming the victim of domestic/sexual violence by the other parent, even if no other legal action has been brought or is currently pending in court.
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