OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
 

Domestic violence crimes are among the most common in New York City. The goal of Domestic Violence Awareness Month is to bring together advocates, working to end violence against women and children. We are committed to preventing domestic violence and assisting those who suffer from its devastating effects. It is important for these victims to know that help is available for them. My office has implemented a number of programs to assist domestic violence victims.

Every year, the DA’s Office handles approximately 7,500 domestic violence cases. This includes child and spousal abuse, stalking, sexual assault, harassment and violations of orders of protection.  We are committed to holding domestic abusers accountable by prosecuting them to the full extent of the law.

I encourage victims and their families and friends to seek assistance if you or someone you know is a victim of Domestic Violence. You can call the Brooklyn Family Justice Center at (718) 250-5111. You can also reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE. In an emergency, call 911. Together, we can help recognize and prevent domestic violence in our communities.

An important step in making sure that victims are safe involves filing an order of protection. This document is issued by the court to protect you from abuse or harassment.  The judge can order your partner to stop abusing you and/or your children, to stay a certain distance away from you, and to have no contact with you whatsoever.  

Sometimes immigrant victims do not report crimes due to fear of deportation. But the DA’s Office will never hold a victim’s immigration status against them, when prosecuting a case, nor report them to federal immigration authorities. In fact there are federal programs available to grant temporary legal status to cooperating crime victims.

Our Domestic Violence Bureau is staffed by specially trained prosecutors, social workers and counselors. They prosecute batterers and provide support services to victims through numerous programs, including:

• The AWARE program provides victims who face a high risk of physical abuse with emergency necklace pendants and electronic security systems to alert the police in case of danger.

• The Cell Phone program is designed to help domestic violence victims by providing them with cell phones programmed to only dial 911 in case of an emergency.

• The Family Justice Center is a joint effort between the District Attorney’s Office and the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence. It provides a one-stop shop for domestic violence victims to receive services, whether it’s meeting with a prosecutor, counselor or clergymember, or to receive counseling, advocacy or emergency shelter.

• The Barrier Free Justice program provides services to domestic violence victims who are deaf or disabled. The program, implemented in 2000, offers crime prevention, counseling, assistance with housing and shelter, and other services.

• The Teen Dating Violence program provides services to young people, ages 13- 20, to put an end to violence through advocacy and community outreach. 

• Project Eden works to help victims in the Jewish Orthodox community to overcome obstacles in coming forward and seeking help. The program offers crisis intervention, support groups, legal representation and other services.

• Project Nyet reaches out to victims in the Russian speaking communities. It addresses domestic violence issues through a confidential network of services and educational programs.

• The Elder Abuse Unit handles cases of spousal abuse and parental (including grandparents, great grandparents, etc.) abuse involving victims, ages 60 or older. The abuse could include physical abuse, threats or neglect.

THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER

The Family Justice Center, located at the Brooklyn DA’s Office, opened in July 2005.  It is a joint effort between the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence. The center is a one-stop shop where domestic violence victims can press criminal charges and access a wide variety of services, including counseling, civil and legal representation and housing assistance. They can receive assistance with family court matters, immigration, police and probation reports, and placement in support groups. The Family Justice Center is staffed with prosecutors, police officers and clergy members.  These services are available all in every language spoken in Brooklyn.

More than 8,000 adult domestic violence victims and over 2,000 children have come to the Family Justice Center since its inception.

Some of the organizations involved include the Department for the Aging, Department of Probation, Safe Horizon, Sanctuary for Families, Barrier Free Living, Caribbean Women’s Health Association, Avon Foundation, United Way, Inc. and Verizon Wireless.

The Family Justice Center is a walk-in center, open Mondays through Fridays, from

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is located at 350 Jay Street in downtown Brooklyn. The Center has a staffed children’s play area.

WANDA LUCIBELLO

A nationally known expert and lecturer on Domestic Violence and related issues, Wanda Lucibello is the Chief of the Special Victims Division for the Brooklyn DA’s Office. Wanda coordinates and runs the District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Task Force and was instrumental in launching the Family Justice Center. In conjunction with the National College of District Attorneys and the New York Prosecutors Training Institute, she conducts training programs in investigating and prosecuting domestic violence cases.

PANEL PROPOSES DNA TESTS TO TRACK ALL SEX OFFENDERS

(Washington) Gov. Christine Gregoire is considering a sweeping list of recommendations aimed at broadening the state's ability to track sex offenders, including widespread use of DNA testing and electronic monitoring.

The task force, led by Kitsap County Prosecutor Russ Hauge, has made the following recommendations:

• DNA samples should be collected from all registered sex offenders.
• State funding should be provided to assist local law enforcement in conducting in-person address verification of all registered sex offenders.
• Electronic monitoring should be used in appropriate circumstances.
• Continued services and supports for victims of sexual assault are essential to holding offenders accountable.
• Information about Level 1 sex offenders, considered the least likely to reoffend, should be added to the statewide notification Web site if the offender fails to register with law enforcement in a timely manner or gives inaccurate information. Currently, only data on Level 2 and Level 3 offenders is posted.
• District and municipal-court conviction records should be electronically available to superior courts in an easily accessible format.
• The creation of a separate sentencing system for sex offenders should be examined, dealing not only with the prison term but with tracking and treatment requirements upon their release.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2003958301&zsection_id=2002111777&slug=sexoffenders18m&date=20071018 

VOLUNTEERS HELP ELDERLY FIGHT SCAMS AND INJUSTICE

It's a small office: one computer and one telephone tucked behind Cash Register 8 at the Coral Springs Super Wal-Mart. The staff is a pair of volunteers, clad in navy blue shirts with a gold logo: Seniors vs. Crime.

Not the imposing image you'd expect from a group that recovered more than $182,000 last year for local residents.

Welcome to the Coral Springs outpost of Seniors vs. Crime, a program the state attorney general's office started in 1989. Since then, the project has produced 35 offices throughout the state.

No problem is too small. No company too daunting. No crooked contractor too shifty to escape their watch.