Domestic violence bill may include cyber-stalking

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OTHER PROGRAMS

If the Violence Against Women Act is reauthorized, Sen. Charles Schumer said, many programs will continue and new ones will be established.

The bill would set aside funding for sexual-assault forensic-evidence kits and offer them free of charge.

"Most acts of violence are not reported because women are afraid nothing will happen and their (abuser) will strike again," Schumer said. "Nobody should be forced to hide in the shadows if they can't afford to make their case, and the bill prevents that from happening."

The bill would also place special emphasis on empowering and educating students on college campuses, and maintain funding for shelters and the Special Advocate Program, which helps children.

"It's been effective and invaluable to the children who have been through so much, either the victims of violence themselves or the victims because a parent is subject to violence."

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February 5, 2012

REBECCA WEBSTER Press-Republican The Press Republican Sun Feb 05, 2012, 02:25 PM EST

PLATTSBURGH — The Violence Against Women Act, up for reauthorization in the Senate this week, may include a new portion on cyber stalking.

The bill, originally passed in 1994, was reauthorized in 2000 and again in 2005.

"We have come a long way since the original bill of 1994, but clearly, we have more work to do," said U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York City) in a recent conference call.

THE PROBLEM

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services recently released staggering figures showing 80,000 reported incidents of domestic abuse in upstate New York during 2009 and 2010.

Clinton County had a total of 658 acts of domestic violence for the two years, with Essex and Franklin counties totaling 574.

"Violent crimes committed against women, of course, not only hurt the women (themselves), but the families," Schumer said, adding that this year the bill will focus more on additional support for abuse in the rural community.

Jessica Nunn Provost, assistant director at Stop Domestic Violence in Plattsburgh — a program component of Behavioral Health Services North — said domestic violence is just as much an issue in the tri-county area as it is elsewhere in the state.

"Domestic violence occurs to people of all walks of life," she said. "Being in a rural community, there are some different challenges."

Programs like Stop Domestic Violence provide counselor support, crisis intervention, community education groups and other support services for the communities, but she said the legislation would be a huge help to those programs.

"We, as a program, are always supportive of any legislation that would enhance the tools to help victims become safer and hold perpetrators accountable," she said.

'STOP' GRANTS

"At the heart of this bill's programming is the ... STOP grants, Services Training Officers Prosecutors," Schumer said.

That will remain a part of the Violence Against Women Act, he said, so that local law enforcement can continue to fight domestic violence and sexual assault.

The program trains police on how to handle cases, he said.

"That's very, very important."

Schumer said that, since 2006, the state has received $145 million to train law enforcement and court officers.

"Not only will the funding be set aside for officers to attend programs and to form domestic violence response teams — and to pool resources — but there will be funding for education and victims services in upstate areas."

Both women and men who fall victim to domestic violence are protected under the bill.

CYBER STALKING

A new portion of the bill deals with cyber stalking, something Schumer believes has caused an increase in domestic violence.

"This is great," Provost said. "It's something that, traditionally, the STOP grants and VAWA would not authorize."

Schumer said that, too often, information put on the Internet, no matter how secure, is used with intent to kill, injure, harass, intimidate or put surveillance on women unknowingly.

"Now, the Internet has become a forum for stalking and violence and has created a new group of victims who are looking for support and action," he said.

The new bill would make it a federal crime to intimidate, harass or stalk others via the Web.

Currently, there are no penalties for this, so the bill would establish them.

"We have to work much more in this area," he said. "If you use the Internet to intimidate, harass, stalk, it would be a crime just as if you did it in person."

Provost said, if passed, the bill would be helpful for victims, but it also helps law enforcement make arrests.

"We really have to see this go through," she said. "It's crucial."

MORE EFFECTIVE

"These are tough times," Schumer said. "Budgets are tight, but if you know a family who has been subject to (domestic violence), we have to do something. And the numbers show it."

Provost said the bill would be an asset.

"We have learned in the past 25 years how to deal more effectively with domestic violence, whether it be training police, setting up special courts (or) dealing with shelters," she said.

"This act is mainly intended to renew the existing act, but to strengthen and add where there are new issues."

Email Rebecca Webster at: rwebster@pressrepublican.com