Today, every New York State Senate Democrat voted against a common sense proposal that would help prevent domestic violence and ensure public safety. 

The bill (S.8876), offered as an amendment on the floor by Senator Patricia Canzoneri Fitzpatrick, would have created a persistent domestic violence registry, similar to New York State’s sex offender registry, in an effort to protect and inform victims and the public. 

“The goal of a persistent domestic violence registry is to empower victims of domestic violence with information, potentially saving their lives. As the mother of 3 young women, this legislation would help me sleep better at night – as I’m sure it would help any parent – knowing that my daughters, and all New Yorkers, can arm themselves with information, so that they hopefully never fall prey to abusers,” said Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick. 

Earlier this year, Tennessee became the first state in the nation to launch a similar registry. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, domestic violence offenders have a high rate of recidivism, with approximately three fifths of those convicted of domestic violence offenses being rearrested within two years. Additionally, the Rockefeller Institute has found that 66-75 percent of females murdered by their partners were previous victims of abuse. 

“These staggering and disturbing numbers highlight the need to take action to help women before they become a victim, or worse, a statistic. This amendment would be a critical step forward in protecting and empowering women,” concluded Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick.

When given the opportunity to take steps to prevent domestic violence and ensure public safety, every single Senate Democrat said “no” and struck down the bill.

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