A state-backed legal aid initiative helped Connecticut domestic violence survivors obtain protective orders at more than double the rate of self-represented applicants nationwide, according to a new report from the Connecticut Bar Foundation.
The findings were part of an annual update on the impact of the TRO Legal Aid program, a state-funded initiative that provides assistance to lower income residents attempting to secure temporary restraining orders (TRO) in an effort to protect themselves from abuse, harassment or domestic violence.
The report on the program’s third year in operation underscored how overlapping systemic disparities combine to create barriers to legal protection for vulnerable populations.
Residents who received legal assistance were overwhelmingly women, who made up between 76% and 84% of clients served by the program at courthouses in Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Stamford and Waterbury. Meanwhile, more than 62% of those seeking aid through the program identified as Black or Latina/o.
The data highlights how factors like poverty, immigration concerns, and mistrust of the legal system overlap to increase vulnerability to abuse and limit access to protection.
“For example,” the report said, “a low-income Latina survivor who is undocumented, has limited English proficiency, and is financially dependent on her abuser is not simply dealing with ‘several issues’—she is facing a deeply interwoven matrix of oppression that limits her legal options, endangers her physical safety, and undermines her autonomy.”
Despite these challenges, the Bar Foundation, which serves as administrator of the program, found that TRO assistance delivered positive outcomes for many of the women seeking help between March 2024 and February 2025.
Around 68% of represented applicants secured restraining orders after an evidentiary hearing– more than double the national success rate of around 32% for self-represented litigants, the report found.
Legal support also helped many domestic violence survivors and their children find safer and more stable living conditions.
“In several cases, attorneys not only secured restraining orders but also facilitated emergency custody arrangements, providing immediate relief for victims in highly dangerous situations,” the report said.
While the Bar Foundation’s report highlighted the program’s successes, it also identified ongoing challenges to the administration of the initiative. For instance, the high cost and limited availability of housing in Connecticut has impeded the recruitment and retention of qualified attorneys, the report found.
“In particular, areas with higher housing costs and general living expenses make it difficult for legal aid organizations to offer competitive salaries, which are crucial to attracting and retaining skilled professionals,” the report said. “This disparity between living costs and salaries has contributed to a workforce turnover rate higher than anticipated.”
