Each year, roughly 450,000 incidents of domestic violence are reported in New York State.¹ In 2012, state courts issued a total of 304,239 orders of protection, of which 218,570 were required to be recorded in the Unified Court System’s Domestic Violence Registry.² And, unfortunately, one in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, and in the United States, three women are murdered by their intimate partner every day.³

In an effort to limit the devastation of domestic violence, Assemblyman Stirpe (D-Cicero), helped the Assembly pass a number of measures to provide better assistance, protection and justice to victims. The Assembly also passed a resolution declaring April 29, 2014, as Domestic Violence Awareness Day in the state of New York (K.1096).

“Domestic violence can happen to anyone and takes both a physical and emotional toll on its victims,” Assemblyman Stirpe said. “We need to take a stand and help protect these victims. The Assembly is leading the way to crack down on offenders and making sure we support and empower victims and their families.”

Specifically, the Assembly’s legislative package:

• prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm if he or she has been convicted of certain family offenses (A.6390);
• permits victims to recover non-economic damages from any or all defendants found liable for failure to obey or enforce domestic violence orders of protection or temporary orders of protection (A.899);
• requires hospitals to establish procedures regarding domestic violence and ongoing training programs for staff, and to designate a hospital staff member to coordinate services to victims (A.2562-A);
• includes the unauthorized tracking of an individual, with a GPS or other device, within the meaning of “following” in the crime of stalking in the fourth degree (A.7720-B);
• requires wireless telephone companies to allow victims of domestic violence to opt out of shared or family plans without incurring any penalties (A.7964-B); and
• requires police to promptly translate domestic violence incident reports that are filled out in a language other than English, as well as provide the notification of victims’ rights in such victim’s native language (A.9251).

This legislative package expands on legislation the Assembly passed earlier this year to aid domestic violence victims in New York, including bills to:

• prohibit employment discrimination against domestic violence victims (A.898); and
• require the interpretation of orders of protection in court proceedings where an interpreter has already been appointed (A.1084-A).

Victims of domestic violence and sexual assault can seek help or assistance 24 hours a day by calling Vera House Inc. at 315-468-3260 or New York’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-942-6906. For further information, visit Vera House’s website verahouse.org, the New York State Office of Victim Services’ website at ovs.ny.gov or the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence website at opdv.ny.gov.

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1. opdv.state.ny.us/help/fss/theproblem.html#facts

2. opdv.ny.gov/statistics/nydata/2012/nys2012data.pdf

3. nnedv.org/resources/stats/faqaboutdv.html