Tracy Thurman

Women’s History Month is here already, and we at DASH could not be more excited! We dedicate our first “spotlight on women” post to Tracy Thurman, who used her suffering to change the way police respond to spousal abuse in the US.  After her abusive husband nearly killed her in 1983, she sued the Torrington, Connecticut police department for violating her right to equal protection under the law.

Though her abuser had made repeated threats on her life, the police ignored her reports because the abuse happened within a marriage.  Two weeks after she reported that he violated his restraining order, which was grounds for arrest, he repeatedly stabbed her.  Even after 3 policemen arrived on the scene, her abuser wasn’t arrested and continued to threaten her.  Finally, he was taken into custody as she was taken to the hospital.

In 1985, Tracy Thurman won her civil lawsuit and was awarded $2.3 million in damages.  More importantly, her journey brought massive changes in domestic violence laws. Now, domestic violence is an arrestable offense even if the victim doesn’t press charges. She continued to work with survivors of domestic violence; her life and her testimony paved the way for laws protecting victims of violence and we remember her story even today. Keep an eye out for more fearless women making change in preventing violence!