Civil Aid
Unmarried abuse victims to get civil aid
BY NANCIE L. KATZ
Monday, June 30th 2008, 3:45 PM
Domestic violence victims, especially teenagers, have won a large victory last week when the state Legislature passed a law expanding civil orders of protection to unrelated victims abused in “dating relationships.”
The Albany vote on the “Fair Access to Family Court” bill cleared the way for New York to join the rest of the country in allowing unmarried abuse victims to seek civil – rather than criminal – relief.
“Wow, this is definitely going to be a lot better for younger girls who are afraid,” said Alisa Griffin, who endured years of abuse from an ex-boyfriend because she was ashamed to go to police.
“I just hope the word gets out because some people don’t go for orders of protection because they think they have to go criminal court.”
Advocates for 190 groups from the New York State Coalition for Fair Access to Family Courts pressed the state Senate to pass the legislation that gives youths and gays in “intimate relationships” access to civil restraining orders.
In 2007, 11% of city high school students reported being physically assaulted in dating relationships, according to the mayor’s office. Nationwide, the rate is one in five, advocates say.
“This will make a world of difference for our teen clients. I’m ecstatic,” said Stephanie Nilva, director of Day One, the state’s only nonprofit for youth domestic violence victims.
Young people who have been bruised, threatened and sexually or physically assaulted show up daily in her office, intimidated by the idea of going to police or facing their abusers in criminal court, Nilva said. They just want the abuser stopped.