October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month: What Everyone Should Know

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  New York State defines Domestic Violence as a pattern of coercive tactics, which can include physical, psychological, sexual, economic and emotional abuse, perpetrated by one person against an adult intimate partner, with the goal of establishing and maintaining power and control over the victim.

Did you know:

• One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime.
• An estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year.
• 85% of domestic violence victims are women.
• Historically, females have been most often victimized by someone they knew.
• Females who are 20-24 years of age are at the greatest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence.
  
• Most cases of domestic violence are never reported to the police.

Source: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Did you know that children who witness domestic violence:

• are the most at risk of transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next.
• Boys who witness domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become adults.
• 30% to 60% of perpetrators of intimate partner violence also abuse children in the household   

While the justice and family court system are far from perfect, New York State laws are designed to help victims of domestic violence.  Victims may seek an order of protection on behalf of themselves/ and or their children from either Family Court, or the criminal court, or both.  Resources are available in English and Spanish as well as other languages from New York State.  The law has been amended to include people in domestic partnerships and intimate relationships.

It is now mandatory that a judge hearing a custody case take into consideration any prior adjudication or finding of domestic violence in a determination of custody and visitation.

Most importantly, if you see something, say something.  Here are some resources in New York State.  Remember, you are not alone:

• Order of Protection:
  FAQ's| HelpCentersCourtHelp
• New! NYS Address Confidentiality Program
• NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV)
• NYS Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CADV) 
  (maintains list of available resources by county)
• National Office on Violence Against Women
• NYC Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project 
  212-714-1141 (24-hour English and Spanish Hotline)
• NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline Numbers
  English: 1-800-942-6906
  TTY: 1-800-818-0656 
  Spanish: 1-800-942-6908
  TTY: 1-800-780-7660
  In NYC: 1-800-621-HOPE (4673) or dial 311
  TTY: 1-866-604-5350

Juliana LoBiondo
www.LoBiondoLaw.com