Download the full five page plan in PDF format here.
Under the Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women, Children and Intimate Partners, we will provide leadership in the city to make violence against these especially vulnerable groups a top priority throughout all levels of government, the private sector, non-profits and our communities. The Plan is based on a distinct and firm philosophy about the importance of ending violence against women, children and intimate partners. Below we outline the philosophies that will guide the Office, and the four areas in which we will work immediately: Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence, Rape (Stranger and Acquaintance), Human/Sex Trafficking, and Stalking. The Anti-Violence Plan is not an end; rather, it is a new beginning of our work to more successfully prevent and prosecute the crimes that have lasting effects on our intimate lives and our families across generations. These crimes form the basis of much of the violence in our society. Key components of the plan include:
- The Establishment of a Family Justice Center in Northern Manhattan. The Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence has opened “Family Justice Centers” in Brooklyn and Queens, located near or in local DA’s offices. They have served many thousands of victims and their children by bringing essential services into one place. The Centers reflect Vance’s philosophy of using integrated services to make the justice system more accessible. The Centers provide a wide spectrum of services for the victim, including: meeting with a prosecutor, filing a police report, civil legal services, counseling for victims and children, safety planning, self-sufficiency programs, support groups, English as a Second Language classes, interpreters, and services for the elderly and disabled. Vance will work to establish one in Northern Manhattan where a disproportionate number of the county’s domestic violence cases are reported.
- Increased Sentences for Repeat Offenders. Research has established that perpetrators of intimate partner violence often escalate the intensity of their violent acts, and once they engage in violence, even at the misdemeanor level, that behavior becomes repetitive. Vance will work with state lawmakers to create legislation that allows the DA’s Office to seek felony treatment of repeat offenders, even if each individual act qualifies currently as a misdemeanor.
- Improved Prosecution of Intimate Partner Violence Involving LGBT Couples. The attention on domestic violence has predominately been paid to heterosexual couples, but intimate partner violence also affects the LGBT community. The District Attorney must ensure that the Office has staff trained to handle the specific issues that can arise in these cases, whether from the victim’s side or in the courtroom.
- Improve the Prosecution of Acquaintance Rape Cases. Acquaintance rape cases present challenges that differ from those encountered in stranger rape cases. In many instances, the criminal justice system has frequently not devoted the necessary resources for effective investigation and prosecution of acquaintance rape. This sometimes results in lower bail, lower plea offers, and shorter sentences in these cases. To address these problems we will:
- Enhance training of prosecutors and police in acquaintance rape cases. The DA’s office will work in conjunction with the police department to train police, investigators and prosecutors in strategies that are tailored specifically to acquaintance rape cases.
- Increase attention by law enforcement to the importance of a timely and detailed interview of the suspect. We will make certain that an attempt is made to obtain a statement from any suspect, as close in time to the reported incident as possible.
- Increase investigative resources. We will dedicate resources to these cases at a level comparable to other highest priority cases.
Download the full five page plan in PDF format here.
