By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-982979.mp3
Albany, NY – A new report shows that overall domestic violence homicides are up in New York by 10 percent. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.
The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services 2010 Domestic Homicide report states there were 144 of the so-called "household homicides" last year compared to 131 the year before. The numbers reflect an overall increase in ALL homicides statewide: officials say THAT spike was driven by a rise in the number of child deaths, and women continue to be the most at risk for violence by someone they know.
State Division of Criminal Justice Services acting commissioner Sean Byrne says doemstic violence is a serial crime, and for the second year in a row, 44 percent of all woman killed in New York were killed by an intimate partner. The report also found the number of homicides by spouses and other "intimate partners" declined 19 percent, to 73 deaths. Byrne notes that firearms are far more likely to be used in a domestic homicide OUTSIDE of New York City than in the City itself.
State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Executive Director Amy Barasch points out that Domestic Violence isn't strictly limited to opposite-sex relationships. The state also released other two reports (WAMC has provided links to the Adobe PDF versions following) - the 2010 Domestic Violence Dashboard Project and the 2010 New York State Domestic Violence Annual Report, both provide a detailed look at the amount of domestic violence that is reported through a variety of agencies, as well as the state's efforts to raise awareness, enhance protections for victims and partner with law enforcement to hold offenders accountable for their behavior.