Originally Published in the LI Herald on April 16th 

New York had almost 90,000 reported victims of domestic violence in 2022 alone. What makes this statistic most troubling is that domestic violence often goes unreported, as does the harm. Whether the victim is protecting their abuser out of fear of retaliation, economic or emotional dependency, denial or shame, abusers continue to exploit and further victimize survivors.

Abusers can be creative in finding ways to manipulate and control their victims. We need to provide tools to victims, victims’ advocates and law enforcement to ensure that survivors of domestic violence get the support they need and perpetrators are held accountable.

That’s why I have introduced a legislative package to increase support for victims, including bills I carry with Assemblyman Ari Brown that would help strengthen our services for those victims, and close loopholes in the law that allow predators to control their domestic partners by threating their pets.

More than one-third of domestic violence survivors suffer head, neck or facial injuries. Nonetheless, one study found that although 65 percent of victims of intimate partner violence reported having lost consciousness or experiencing a period of being dazed and confused, only 35 percent sought medical treatment. In some cases, a victim may opt not to seek care on their own to protect their abuser, or their abuser may prevent them from seeking care. 

As a result, victims of such violence are especially vulnerable to undiagnosed traumatic brain injuries. While there has rightfully been an increased focus on TBI among athletes, military personnel and seniors who fall, domestic violence victims are typically overlooked. The state Department of Health has taken steps to address this issue, such as alerting health care providers to this connection, but there is still more to be done.

For instance, the state’s Traumatic Brain Injury Program includes a variety of state departments and offices that can offer unique insights into how their mission intersects with challenges related to TBI, and these agencies also have their commissioner or a designee on the Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council. However, the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence does not have a seat on the council, and has no role in the TBI Program. One of my bills would correct that oversight and ensure the office’s inclusion in shaping policies and training to mitigate the epidemic of TBI among survivors of domestic violence.

Another oversight in our laws deals with the crime of coercion and the use of coercive control, whereby an abuser controls their victim through the use of threats, pressure, shame or other manipulative tactics. While New York has a criminal penalty for coercion, which includes using the threat of physical harm or damage to property, it does not include threats against pets. This critical gap in the law is especially concerning given that roughly 70 percent of pet owners entering domestic violence shelters report that their abuser threatened, injured or killed a family pet. Additionally, 90 percent of animal abuse incidents committed by perpetrators of domestic violence are done in the presence of their victims to exert control or revenge. That’s why I have introduced a bill to include threats to harm animals in the crime of coercion.

Domestic violence is a blight that is as complex as it is ever-changing, because technology offers opportunities for abusers to exert even more control over their victims’ lives. While we may never be able to achieve a world in which this horrific crime is nonexistent, we must commit to continuously examining our laws to ensure that we are doing everything we can to prevent it and to provide critical services to those in need.

Other legislative improvements I am exploring with other lawmakers include a bill I introduced to create a registry of persistent domestic violence offenders, and one I cosponsor to allow orders of protection to include prohibiting an abuser from having contact with a shared pet. Lawmakers must be diligent in our efforts, and comprehensive in our proposals, to protect women and all victims of domestic violence.

Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick represents the 9th State Senate District.