Issue Position: Domestic Violence Issues

Issue Position

Survivors Advocating For Effective Reform (SAFER)

QUESTIONS FOR NEW YORKSTATE SENATE CANDIDATES

From Amy Hope Witryol, candidate, 62nd District, New York State Senate
1. What specifically will you do during the next year inoffice to help stop domestic and sexual violence?

Work to assure that the NYS TANF program is not cut to preclude proper services for victims and that the NY Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) is continued at the same level of funding. I will try to restore training and travel money so OPDV can continue to work with local law enforcement agencies to ensure they a retrained in the most recent changes in the law and investigation techniques and appropriate responses to domestic violence investigations.

2. Right now, domestic violence shelters and programs in Monroe County have to turn away victims due to tight budgets and lack of space and resources. What will you do to ensure that services are available for all victims?

In this era of tight budgets, I will work to ensure that the budget is not balanced on the backs of victims of domestic violence and abused children. I will try to ensure that good programs established within Monroe County can continue to serve and protect these important segments of our population. I would also try to encourage coordination between counties such that if a victim turns to a county that does not have resources, that at least there is information for sister agencies. For example,perhaps the state domestic violence hotline could maintain information for bed availability.

3. How will you support school-based education programs that teach children about healthy relationship and dating violence prevention?

I will support measures that provide the teachers in health and guidance counselors with access to the latest information so they can do the best possible job educating our children.

4. What legislation have you supported or will support to better the lives of domestic violence victims?

I'm supportive of new legislation strengthening the penal code to make strangulation a felony. I'm supportive of landlord tenant rights for victims.

5. How will you support increased collaboration between child welfare agencies and battered women's programs to ensure children and victims receive the support they need?

Given the generally high turnover rate in child welfare personnel and staff, appropriate training in procedures should be required for all newly hired child welfare workers; not only techniques for responding, but also awareness local resources available so that children are not removed from a parent unnecessarily.

6. How will you support and fund programs that promote economic independence and freedom for victims of domestic violence?

By supporting programs similar to the Every Woman's Opportunity Center which provide job training and resume building workshops and general counseling to assist women who are victims of domestic violence or who have been out of the workforce.

7. How would you define domestic violence?

The use or threatened use of physical, sexual, psychological or economic abuse to control the behavior of another person.

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