Domestic Violence Stats Show State-Wide Increase In Incidents
Utica, NY (WIBX) - Acting Commissioner of the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, Sean M. Byrne, hosted a conference call to discuss the findings of three domestic violence-related reports. Byrne says although intimate partner homicides went down 19-percent, the total number of domestic homicides rose 10-percent last year.
He said, "44-percent of all women killed in New York State, were killed by an intimate partner. The least safe place for a woman in New York State is her own home, and that the person that's most likely to kill that woman is a loved one." He says it's a reminder that domestic violence is still a serious concern in New York State. Byrne added that officials are working to decrease those numbers by implemented state-wide follow-up safety check programs. Also, he says laws recently signed by Governor Cuomo--that prohibits a convicted domestic abuser from purchasing a gun and tougher penalties for the act of choking a victim--play a major role when it comes to deterrence.
Commissioner Byrne was joined by Amy Barasch, executive director of the state Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, (OPDV), and DCJS Deputy Commissioner, Theresa E. Salo who discussed the findings of the following reports: the Domestic Homicide in New York State 2010 Report, the 2010 OPDV Domestic Violence Dashboard and the 2010 Domestic Violence Annual Report. You can find the three reports by clicking on the links below.
Also, you can find addition information about domestic violence in New York State at, http://www.opdv.state.ny.us/. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and supporters are asked to wear purple. For information on the 2011 Domestic Violence Awareness Project visit, http://dvam.vawnet.org/.
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