New York's Domestic Violence Task Force released a report Friday following a statewide tour on the domestic violence crisis facing New York.
'A Safe haven: Helping Abuse Victims and Enhancing Protections' is the title of the new report. It can be read in full by following this link.
“As lawmakers, protecting New Yorkers is paramount. Introducing these legislative solutions will help mitigate the substantial impact of domestic violence and is a firm demonstration of our commitment to those vulnerable to violence,” said Assemblyman Joseph M. Giglio (R,C,I-Gowanda), task force chairman. “Hearing the heartbreaking stories of the victims was eye-opening and highlights the need for an immediate and swift remedy to domestic violence. It is my hope the full Legislature makes addressing domestic violence a priority this year.”
Members of the Assembly Minority Conference hosted a series of regional forums last fall. They were meant to provide an outlet for victims of domestic abuse, their advocates and law enforcement to discuss ways to prevent violence and support those who have suffered from it.
The Assembly Minority Conference is now planning to introduce a package of bills and offer a number of solutions to address domestic violence in New York. Those solutions include:
- Creating a new statute in the Penal Law, based on the hate crime statute which presently exists, which would designate an enhanced Domestic Violence Crime;
- Creating a new “Domestic Violence in the Presence of a Child” crime;
- Creating a standardized warning process for the court or agency serving an order of protection;
- Permitting courts to award temporary spousal support when issuing a temporary order of protection;
- Increasing access to temporary housing for victims of domestic violence;
- Expanding the current Family Justice Center model and creating a fully-funded, state-based program that will allow counties in every region of the state to open Domestic Violence Crisis Centers to ensure safe support services are more accessible to victims;
- Creating a statewide education campaign to promote healthy relationships and inform students of the warning signs of domestic violence; and Prioritizing funding for programs aimed at providing shelter, benefits and training for victims and advocates.
