Lawmakers Consider Adding 'Coercive Control' In Domestic Violence Cases - Honolulu Civil Beat Lawmakers Consider Adding ‘Coercive Control’ In Domestic Violence Cases Supporters say the bill will make it easier to prosecute domestic abusers, but critics including law enforcement say its definition is far too broad. Reading time: 6 minutes. Many people believe that domestic abuse is characterized by broken bones and physical injuries, but that is not always the case. “It is often very subtle and is rooted in the power and control that one partner has over the other,” said Nanci Kreidman, executive director of Hawaii’s Domestic Violence Action Center.