Issues: Victims

The New York State Senate today passed legislation that givesjudges the ability to consider well-established risk factors in determiningbail or recognizance in domestic violence cases so that a victim and theirfamily can be further protected from an assailant.

       The bill (S.1414A), sponsored by Senator Stephen Saland (R-I-C,Poughkeepsie), would allow the history of violence or threats of violence,prior orders of protection, and the accused’s access to guns to beconsidered by a judge, potentially affecting their release conditions andsparing many victims and their children additional harm or even death.

Governor Cuomo released the following announcement on March 27, 2012:

The Budget continues the Governor’s commitment to fiscal responsibility while creating jobs and strengthening communities across the state. It closes a multi-billion dollar deficit with no new taxes, fees or gimmicks, limits spending growth to two percent or below for the second year in a row, and launches the New York Works Task Force to invest billions of dollars to rebuild the state's roads, bridges, parks, and other infrastructure and create tens of thousands of jobs.

Urges Senate Action on His Domestic Violence Bill That Has Won Assembly Support

Legislation Dedicated to NYPD Officer Killed by Serial Abuser Would Give DAs New Tool to Better Protect Domestic Violence Victims

ALBANY – Today, State Senator Daniel Squadron joined advocates and leaders to push for his legislation that would increase penalties for repeat domestic violence offenders, as the NYS Coalition Against Domestic Violence's Legislative Awareness Day brought hundreds of advocates to the Capitol. Last week, the Senate Republican Majority shelved the legislation, which passed the Assembly in 2011, by referring it to the Rules Committee and effectively preventing future debate or a vote. 

The legislation -  S.1510/A.1986 (Golden-Squadron/Rosenthal) - would provide district attorneys with the tools to crack down on recurring violence and abuse by establishing the felony-level crime of “aggravated domestic violence” for abusers who commit two or more offenses within five years.  It is dedicated to fallen NYPD Office Alain Schaberger, who was killed last March in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn responding to a domestic violence call. Officer Schaberger was thrown over a staircase railing by a serial domestic violence abuser who had a 12-year history of offenses.