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Quotes from Survivors of Domestic Violence and Current Residential Clients at the Retreat

Suffolk County Public Hearing-

Domestic Violence Registry legislation (IR 1314-09)

Quotes from Survivors of Domestic Violence and Current Residential Clients at the Retreat

 

November 30, 2009

 

How do you feel about the proposed Domestic Violence Registry and how it may affect you personally or other survivors of domestic abuse?

 

• “Although I feel the vengeance would be exacted and I’d feel some sort of immediate gratification, I would also be concerned how this public information may impact my children — especially at school.”

 

• “I have very real and sincere concerns that if this information was posted about my husband, then he would turn around and kill me.”

 

• “I would fear others wouldn’t understand and would point their fingers at me and blame me for what happened or judge me and my children.”

 

• “I would also be concerned for my children and their anonymity.”

 

• “I really question how many women (including myself) would view this list prior to dating someone.”

 

• “Although I think I have nothing to hide or be ashamed of, I don’t know if others would understand the courage, strength and pain I went through to leave my partner. I don’t know if this went public about him, if others would understand or believe what truly happened and not blame me.”

 

• “I would not want my children to be teased in school if others had access to this information.”

 

• “I would be afraid if this went public about my husband. I would be afraid how he would react to me and our children. This would anger him greatly and make my children’s visitation with him a nightmare.”

 

• “I can see how it may hurt some (unintentionally). I think the choice of whether or not this information is made public should be on a case by case basis, and the victim should have direct input into this decision for her safety.”

Description of what a DV Registry entails:

A LOCAL LAW TO AUTHORIZE A COUNTY REGISTRY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDERS

WHEREAS, there was duly presented and introduced to this County Legislature  at a meeting held on April 28, 2009, a proposed local law entitled, “A LOCAL LAW TO  AUTHORIZE A COUNTY REGISTRY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDERS“; BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, as follows:  This Legislature finds that such web based registries would provide a critical service within their communities. This Legislature also determines that Suffolk County residents should have similar access to information on individuals convicted of domestic violence crimes so that they can protect themselves and their loved ones from violence in their homes, one place where everyone should feel safe.

Therefore, the purpose of this law is to create a registry for individuals convicted of domestic violence crimes and to provide a procedure for the placement of such individuals on the registry.

 The Probation Department shall have the authority to recommend to sentencing judges that a person who is convicted of a domestic violence crime in Suffolk County be placed on the Domestic Violence Registry. The Probation Department shall use this authority at their discretion after reviewing each case on an individual basis.

 Each person required to register with the Domestic Violence Registry shall submit:
1. Their name,
2. Any aliases they are known under,
3. Their residential address, and
4. A photograph of their head and shoulders from the front

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This entry was posted on Friday, December 4th, 2009 at 4:30 pm and is filed under Executive Director.

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