Assemblyman Stirpe (D-Cicero) announced the passage of a series of measures that will help protect victims of violent crimes, including domestic violence. The Assembly’s legislation, which coincides with National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, includes provisions to empower victims and their families by providing support and assistance, while helping to lift the financial burden many face as a result of these crimes.

“With the passage of this legislation, the Assembly is taking a proactive approach to combatting crime by providing enhanced protections and removing some of the financial barriers that impact a victim’s ability to obtain justice,” said Assemblyman Stirpe. “Supporting and empowering those affected by crime will help ensure criminals are brought to justice, making our communities safer.”

Specifically, the Assembly’s legislative package:

• expands victims’ benefits to include counseling expenses for surviving family members of homicide victims, including domestic partners (A.3694);
• allows courts to direct all or a portion of certain fines to the Office of Victim Services, helping to create another revenue source to fund assistance programs for victims (A.2661);
• allows victims to receive compensation for transportation costs associated with necessary court appearances (A.1097);
• increases the threshold for proving financial difficulty in claims made with the Office of Victim Services, making it easier for victims to be compensated (A.6943);
• ensures victims of violent crimes or sex offenses are informed of their right to submit a statement to the state parole board if their perpetrator is being considered for parole (A.6945);
• extends orders of protection issued in relation to felony or misdemeanor sexual assault, to guarantee that victims are protected while their abusers are on probation (A.1797-A);
• expands the definition of rape to include forms of nonconsensual sexual acts, which are currently classified as a “criminal sexual acts” (A.4959); and
• protects the right of tenants to report criminal acts, including acts of domestic violence, without the fear of losing their homes (A.1322).

On average, three women in the United States are murdered by their intimate partner every day, and 1 in 4 women will experience some form of domestic violence in her lifetime.¹ And, according to the Syracuse Domestic Violence Court – which sees 1,100 cases a year – 25 percent of abusers strike again.² Fortunately, there are resources in our community, like the Vera House, that provide assistance to victims and their families, Assemblyman Stirpe noted.

“The legislation passed by the Assembly today will help to further our shared goal of ending domestic and sexual violence,” said Randi Bregman, Executive Director of Vera House, Inc. “These measures, coupled with the increase in funding for rape crisis centers included in the state budget, will allow us to continue providing vital services and support to families in our community.”

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.

_____________________________________