10/26/2026
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and this is something EVERYONE should know about.
I recently learned the importance of the Safe Connections Act. Unfortunately, awareness of this federal law is still lacking, even among some members of law enforcement. In some cases, officers may unknowingly advise perpetrators of domestic violence that they have every right to disconnect a victim’s phone service simply because they’re the primary account holder, without recognizing that access to phone service may be used as a means of coercion, intimidation, and control.
But here’s what more people need to understand:
📱 A cell phone isn’t just a convenience. It’s a lifeline.
Our phone numbers are connected to virtually every aspect of our lives: banking, employment, medical care, prescriptions, children’s schools, court proceedings, bill payments, email accounts, two-factor authentication, and emergency communications.
Taking away someone’s access to their phone number can effectively cut them off from essential services, financial resources, and the people they depend on.
And when that access is deliberately used to threaten, punish, intimidate, or control someone, it’s not simply a disagreement over who pays the phone bill. It can be a form of coercive control.
⚖️ That’s why the Safe Connections Act matters.
This federal law provides important protections for survivors of domestic violence and other qualifying abuse, including the ability to request separation of their phone line from a shared mobile account, even when they aren’t the primary account holder.
Being the account holder does not mean someone gets to use control over another person’s phone service without regard to federal survivor protections.
And unfortunately, having a badge doesn’t automatically mean someone is familiar with every law designed to protect victims. That’s exactly why education and awareness are so important.
Please share this information. Someone you know may need it, and they may have absolutely no idea these protections exist.
Knowledge is power. And sometimes, knowing your rights can help someone take an important step toward safety and freedom. 💜🪻🫂
