New York City Family Justice

Center, Queens

Queens Library

December 11, 2012

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg

Commissioner Yolanda B. Jimenez

District Attorney Richard Brown

A frequent question is “What is

Domestic Violence?”

DV is a pattern of power and control. It is not just about hitting.

It usually begins with put-downs, and often includes:

Depriving a person from contact with friends and family (with different excuses as to why they need to be away from the people who care for her)….

Frequent calls and demands to know where they are each minute of the day

Telling the partner they don’t know how to care for their children or they don’t know how to care for themselves

Extreme jealousy and accusations

It will often escalate to physical aggression and brutality

Domestic violence can occur between intimate partners, siblings, or can occur between a caretaker and a vulnerable elderly or disabled

Defining the Problem

Victims/Survivors Spouse or Ex-spouse

Currently living together or previously lived together

Boyfriend/Girlfriend or Ex-boyfriend/Ex-girlfriend

Children in common

LGBTQ relationships

Who are victims of domestic

violence?

Every race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, socio-

economic status, etc.

Victims often unaware of effects of

DV to child witnesses

The effects of witnessing repeat violence can be far ranging and include: depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, insecurity, aggression toward others, physical ailments

Children see signs, hear sounds, are more aware than parents think

Children may feel responsible

The importance of safety planning

Most DV homicides occur when the victim attempts to separate from the abuser

Safety plans should be tailored according to each individual’s circumstance

QFJC clients receive safety planning, which may include:

Copying and storing important documents

Using a code with a trusted friend when abuse is escalating

Teaching children to be familiar with address and emergency numbers

Knowing how NYPD can help her remove her items from the home safely

Impact on Victim

Minimizing abuse

Love for partner and hope s/he will change

Sense that a nurturing relationship is not possible

Fear of worse harm

Traditional beliefs about marriage and parenting

Fear of ACS involvement/children being removed

Impact on Victim

Economic Dependence

Victim (and children) financially dependent on batterer

Victim does not have resources to go elsewhere independently/fear of disruption in life in moving to shelter/concerns about living in shelter

Criminal Justice System

Victim fears police or not being believed

Victim does not understand criminal court process

Additional Barriers

No Immigration Status

Non-English speaking

Elderly

Teens (fear upsetting parents)

LGBTQ (being “outted”)

Male victims

Disabled victims

Civil Service Model

Who is the expert? Client is the expert on her/his

experience

Practitioners are experts on general information and available resources

Client’s self-determination is respected She should not feel someone else is trying

to control her

She should feel she will be accepted and respected if/when she is ready to make changes

If you know someone who is a victim of

DV or intimidation by a partner

Don’t judge

Let her know that help is available

Offer to help when she is ready

Let her know that the threat to her safety may increase when she attempts to leave

It’s important for her to plan and prepare carefully

Domestic Violence Statistics

In 2011, over 700 domestic incidents were reported to the police daily

Hotline: In 2011, an average of 310 calls were made to the City’s domestic violence hotline daily

Citywide: over 700 domestic violence reports are filed daily

Nationally: Between 25% and 37% of women will be assaulted by an intimate partner in their lifetime

In 2011 there were 92 homicides in NYC; in nearly 70% of cases the victim had no prior contact with police

New York City Family Justice Center,

Queens (QFJC)

The QFJC is an initiative of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence (OCDV) in partnership with the Queens County District Attorney’s office, and 20 city agency and non-profit service providers

In NYC, there are currently three FJC’s that are all operated by OCDV: Brooklyn (2005), Queens (2008), and Bronx (2010)

Collectively, the NYC Family Justice Centers have served over 80,000 victims of domestic violence

The QFJC has had over 44,000 client visits and over 3,400 children have visited Margaret’s Place, our children’s activity room

Services Provided

The FJCs are walk-in centers open Mon-Fri, 9-5, where domestic violence victims can choose the services they want, including:

Adult and children’s counseling

Housing and public benefits assistance

Family court, matrimonial and immigration legal assistance

Meeting with law enforcement/prosecution

Self-sufficiency workshops and counseling

Client Concerns

Privacy:

Victim’s identity, status as a DV victim and immigration status may not be revealed without express written consent-- Protected under the Mayor’s Executive Order 41

Information is not shared with law enforcement, unless the client chooses to do so herself

Information is not shared with outside government agencies or entered in any publicly accessible database

NYC’s Executive Order 41

Protects Immigrants

Under New York City’s Executive Order 41 all victims of crimes in New York City, including domestic violence, can call the police for protection. New York City police officers do not report the immigration status of crime victims or crime witnesses to federal immigration authorities

Requires City employees to protect the confidentiality of information about a person’s sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a crime witness, receipt of public assistance, and information in income tax records

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Immigration Remedies

VAWA self-petitions

Battered spouse and battered child waivers

VAWA cancellation

U visa

T visa

Asylum

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

Language Resources

Language Line live interpretation service in 150 languages

Service providers speak 20 languages

FJC brochures available in 8 languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Creole, Russian, & Bengali online at www.nyc.gov/domesticviolence

Services Not Provided

Supervised visitation

Couples counseling or mediation

Batterers Intervention Programs

Contact information

New York City Family Justice Center, Queens 126-02 82nd Avenue

Kew Gardens, NY 11415 Office: (718) 575-4500

Safe Horizon Hotline: Safe Horizon DV Hotline – 1-800-621-HOPE

(4673)

New York City's main source of government information and non-emergency services – 311

• Safe Horizon DV Hotline – 1-800-621-HOPE (4673)