Legal Innovation and Implementation: Translating Coercive Control Theory into Practice (Session 3)

Legal Innovation and Implementation: Translating Coercive Control Theory into Practice (Session 3)

This session examines the critical work of translating Evan Stark’s groundbreaking coercive control theory into legal practice across multiple jurisdictions. Cassandra Wiener explores Stark’s concept of the “liberty crime” and discusses the transformative paradigm shift that occurs when legal systems recognize coercive control as a fundamental violation of personal freedom rather than merely a pattern of discrete violent acts. Her presentation examines how this reconceptualization changes everything from investigation practices to prosecution strategies to judicial understanding. Andreea Gruev-Vintila presents comparative analysis of how five different jurisdictions have worked to incorporate coercive control into their legal frameworks, revealing both the challenges and successes encountered when translating theory into legislation and case law. She examines what works, what doesn’t, and why certain approaches have been more successful in achieving meaningful legal recognition and effective prosecution of coercive control. These presentations provide essential insights for advocates, policymakers, and legal professionals working to advance coercive control legislation and implementation in their own jurisdictions.