PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (WCAX) – Two recent murders in northern New York are bringing renewed attention to the problem of domestic violence and residents’ access to victims’ services.
Jacquie Slater with the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, says a push is underway statewide to increase communication between law enforcement and social service organizations to help domestic violence victims.
State data shows there were almost 50,000 cases of domestic violence in 2022, including 32 intimate partner murders in the state outside of New York City.
“When you are looking at the last three years, four years, there is a shift that really has to be attributed to the pandemic,” Slater said. “They want to make sure they have the resources they need so they can make sure they are taking the next steps to protect themselves, to protect anyone else that might be in the home.”
The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office says they’ve had roughly 60 domestic violence calls so far this year. One of them this month turned deadly. New York State Police say 57-year-old Lisa Dashnaw was strangled by her husband earlier this spring. Her body was found last week dumped in the trunk of a rental car in the Town of Plattsburgh.
The sheriff’s office’s Chief Deputy Nicholas Leon says an increase in mental health cases is a major factor. “A lot more struggles, there’s more financial struggles, there’s a lot more instability in society,” he said. Leon says a big focus is on providing support to victims. “We try to get them their services through Stop Domestic Violence. If there are mental issues in that residence, then we will contact the local mental health crew to come out, the crisis response groups. We will send them off to DSS if they are looking for money. If for some reason they want to leave the home, we will assist them in that. And there has been times we have had to work with the SPCA to house their animals for them.”
Slater also says New York’s budget includes $5 million for the Safe Fund, which is for domestic violence victims to tap into when they need funds for a place to stay or replacement items after a crime.