By bridging the gap between victim testimony and legal evidence, the EAA plays a critical role in ensuring that justice is served, even when victims are unable to testify.

In the landmark case of Crawford v. Washington (2004), the U.S. Supreme Court revolutionized the interpretation of the Sixth Amendment's Confrontation Clause, shifting the legal landscape regarding the admission of testimonial evidence in criminal trials. This ruling, alongside the Forfeiture by Wrongdoing Clause, has significant implications for the treatment of victims’ statements in abuse and domestic violence cases.

The concept of the Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit (EAA) was pioneered by Susan Murphy Milano, a nationally known advocate for victims of abuse, who dedicated her life to creating proactive solutions for those trapped in violent relationships. When the Stacy Peterson missing persons case garnered media attention in 2007, Susan was triggered by all of the red flags from her personal experiences and got to work.

The Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit (EAA) is a notarized legal document designed to protect victims of abuse by creating a record of the harm they have endured. It includes detailed accounts of the victim’s experiences, providing law enforcement, legal professionals, and advocates with vital information to act swiftly and effectively if the victim goes missing or is otherwise unable to advocate for themselves.

By spreading awareness, offering resources, and encouraging open discussions, we can dismantle the harmful stereotypes that allow abuse to persist. Abuse thrives in silence, secrecy, and misinformation, but by replacing myths with truth, we can take meaningful steps toward prevention and healing.

Coercive control is a pattern of behavior by an abuser to dominate their partner and erode their autonomy and self-worth. Some of the tactics coercive control encompasses include emotional manipulation, isolation, intimidation, and micromanagement, perhaps not all used at once, but aimed at maintaining power.