Domestic Violence in NYC - Policy, Politics, Action & Enforcement
Statistics show that one in four women in New York will be in an abusive relationship at some point during their lifetime. Police responded to 249,440 domestic violence incidents in 2010; this averages to over 680 incidents per day. In addition, NYPD’s Domestic Violence Unit conducted 67,761 home visits in 2010, a 77% increase since 2002. What constitutes domestic violence in NYC, and why it is difficult for to investigate, prosecute, and prevent?
Join us on February 13 to hear a panel of experts speak about the issue of domestic violence in New York and what is being done, both politically and practically, to combat its prevalence.
Former head of the Sex Crimes Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, Linda Fairstein, will introduce the event, provide some background on the issues, and act as moderator.
NYPD Deputy Chief Michael Osgood, the Head of the Special Victims Unit of the NYPD, will be joined by Nathaniel Fields, Senior Vice President for Domestic Violence Shelter and Hotline Programs at Safe Horizon as well as a representative from city government to lead a discussion on the issues surrounding domestic violence in the city.
The discussion will involve topics including the recent City Council 4-point plan, the role of local nonprofits in combating domestic violence in the city, enforcement, obstacles and possible solutions.
Full bios of the speakers and moderators are listed below. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from our city's leading government and enforcement officials, discussing an important issue for all New Yorkers.
Free for Annual Members, $5 everyone else
Visit www.dl21c.org for full info, upcoming events and membership details.
See you Monday night!
Linda Fairstein
Linda Fairstein, former prosecutor and bestselling crime novelist, is one of America’s foremost legal experts on crimes of violence against women and children. A graduate of Vassar College and the University of Virginia School of Law, she served in the New York County District Attorney’s Office from 1972 to 2002, where she was Chief of the Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit for 26 years. Fairstein is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers; a trustee of Vassar College; and serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations including Safe Horizon, the country’s largest victim advocacy group. She is a legal commentator on major network and cable news shows. In 2010, she was awarded the New York Women’s Agenda Lifetime Achievement Award for her domestic violence work, and the Silver Bullet Award of the International Thriller Writers. She is the author of a non-fiction work – SEXUAL VIOLENCE – which was a New York Times “Notable Book of the Year,” and of thirteen crime novels including the 2011 bestseller, SILENT MERCY.
Deputy Chief Michael Osgood
Deputy Chief of the New York Police Department, Head of the NYPD Special Victims Unit
Nathaniel Fields
Nathaniel Fields joined Safe Horizon in 2008 and is responsible for Domestic Violence Shelter and Hotline Programs. Nathaniel has over 25 years of experience in the field of human services, with 15 of those years working in leadership positions with various stakeholders in the field of domestic violence. He remains very active in the domestic violence movement as he serves as the Co-Chair of the New York City Coalition of Residential Domestic Violence Providers and is a Board Member of the NYS Coalition Against Domestic Violence. He holds an MSW degree from Fordham University and is licensed to practice social work in New York State.