ACT NOW and support critical legislation for survivors of domestic violence and all community members in your district and across the state.
Earlier this year, the WCC submitted a letter in support of the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (A.7874/S.5436). If enacted, this bill would begin to address years of injustice faced by survivors caught in the criminal justice system whose lives have been shattered by domestic abuse.
All too often, when a survivor defends herself, our criminal justice system responds with harsh punishment instead of with compassion and assistance. Much of this punishment is a result of our state’s current sentencing structure which does not allow judges discretion to fully consider the impact of domestic violence when determining sentence lengths. This leads to long, unfair prison sentences for many survivors.
The DV Survivors Justice Act would address this problem by: (1) allowing judges to sentence survivors to shorter prison terms and, in some cases, community-based alternative-to-incarceration program and (2) providing survivors currently in prison the opportunity to apply for resentencing, granting much-deserved relief for incarcerated individuals who pose no threat to public safety. For more information, please read a full explanation of the bill.
Domestic and international human rights standards uphold the right of women – and all people – to live free from violence. Our government has recognized its responsibility to preserve this right and provide support for DV survivors. This responsibility does not end when a survivor becomes involved in the criminal justice system because of the abuse she suffers – in part because the lack of adequate protection, intervention and support is what often leads to this involvement in the first place.
With no compromise to public safety, the DV Survivors Justice Act will help New York address years of injustice suffered by survivors given harsh penalties for acting to protect themselves and their families, and decrease the likelihood that survivors will be victimized by the very system that should protect them.
ACT NOW and support critical legislation for survivors of domestic violence and all community members in your district and across the state.
