Closing Notice

The City Bar will be closed Monday, July 2, through Wednesday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.

View All Issues View All Committees View All Committee Reports Search Issues & Policy

Domestic Violence Committee

Overview

The Domestic Violence Committee engages in policy and legal analysis, and attorney and public education on issues relating to domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence. Recent topics addressed by the Committee include police accountability for responding to domestic abuse, housing and employment discrimination against survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and sentencing for defendants who are domestic violence survivors.
Chairs
- Amanda M. Beltz
  Email Amanda M. Beltz
Reports
- Federal Immigration Enforcement in NYS Courthouses: Recommendations (July 11, 2018) PDF
  
  Author(s): Children & the Law Committee Children, Council on Civil Court Committee Criminal Courts Committee Criminal Justice Operations Committee Domestic Violence Committee Family Court & Family Law Committee Immigration & Nationality Law Committee Judicial Administration, Council on Juvenile Justice Committee Pro Bono & Legal Services Committee State Courts of Superior Jurisdiction Committee Women in the Courts Task Force
  
  Subject Area(s): Access to Justice for Immigrant Detainees Immigration Reform
- Support for the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (April 05, 2018) PDF
  
  Author(s): Civil Court Committee Judicial Administration, Council on Criminal Courts Committee Criminal Justice Operations Committee Domestic Violence Committee Family Court & Family Law Committee Immigration & Nationality Law Committee Pro Bono & Legal Services Committee State Courts of Superior Jurisdiction Committee Women in the Courts Task Force
  
  Subject Area(s): Immigration Reform Access to Justice
- Report in Support of the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act, which would give greater discretion to judges when sentencing defendants who are survivors of domestic violence (May 10, 2017) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee Criminal Justice Operations Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Domestic Violence Victims, Sentencing of New York State Legislative Agenda
- Report on Legislation to Prohibit Employers from Discriminating Against Victims of Domestic Violence (May 04, 2017) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee Civil Rights Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Discrimination Employment Discrimination
- Amicus Brief: Whole Woman's Health v. Cole (U.S. Supreme Court) (January 04, 2016) PDF
  
  Author(s): Sex & Law Committee Domestic Violence Committee Civil Rights Committee Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Rights Committee Women in the Legal Profession Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Reproductive Rights
- Report on the Pet and Women Safety Act (March 20, 2015) PDF
  
  Author(s): Animal Law Committee Domestic Violence Committee Children & the Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Companion Animals/Pets Domestic Violence
- Letter to Congress regarding the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) (July 02, 2014) PDF
  
  Author(s): African Affairs Committee Domestic Violence Committee Sex & Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Violence Against Women
- Report on legislation which would provide victims of domestic violence with the right to call and access police and emergency assistance as well as provide housing-related protections to victims of domestic violence (June 17, 2014) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Domestic Violence Victims
- Letter to Commissioner Rose Pierre-Louis of the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence offering policy recommendations concerning domestic violence issues (February 01, 2014) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Domestic Violence NYC Policy Recommendations
- 2013 Policy Recommendations for New York City's Next Mayor (May 01, 2013) PDF
  
  Author(s): Animal Law Committee Banking Law Committee Children & the Law Committee Children, Council on Civil Court Committee Civil Rights Committee Consumer Affairs Committee Corrections & Community Reentry Committee Criminal Advocacy Committee Criminal Courts Committee Criminal Justice Operations Committee Criminal Law Committee Disability Law Committee Domestic Violence Committee Drugs & the Law Committee Education & the Law Committee Environmental Law Committee Housing & Urban Development Committee Monday Night Law/Moderate Means Committee Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Rights Committee Matrimonial Law Committee New York City Affairs Committee Real Property Law Committee Sex & Law Committee Social Welfare Law Committee Transportation Committee United Nations Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): NYC Policy Recommendations Transition Memo
- Comments regarding the Office of Court Administration's proposed rule on alternative dispute resolution in matrimonial law cases (February 01, 2013) PDF
  
  Author(s): Matrimonial Law Committee Domestic Violence Committee Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Alternative Dispute Resolution in Matrimonial Law Cases
- Testimony before the New York City Council Committee on Immigration on Int. 982 and Int. 989 which would change the current U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer policy in New York City by limiting the Department of Correction's and New York Police Department's collaboration with ICE (January 2013) (January 01, 2013) PDF
  
  Author(s): Criminal Courts Committee Civil Rights Committee Corrections & Community Reentry Committee Domestic Violence Committee Immigration & Nationality Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Immigration Detainers
- Letter to the New York City Council regarding the City's collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") with respect to the holding of immigrant New Yorkers subject to ICE detainers (January 2013) (January 01, 2013) PDF
  
  Author(s): Criminal Courts Committee Civil Rights Committee Immigration & Nationality Law Committee Domestic Violence Committee Corrections & Community Reentry Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Immigration Detainers
- Report on H.R.4970 the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012 (May 2012) (May 01, 2012) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act
- Testimony before the NYS Democratic Conference Public Forum concerning legislation addressing housing discrimination against victims of domestic violence and the sentencing of victims who are convicted of committing crimes where abuse was a significant contributing factor to the criminal behavior (May 2012) (May 01, 2012) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Domestic Violence Victims
- Report on A.1986-B/S.5822 which would create the crime of aggravated family offense (March 2012) (March 01, 2012) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Aggravated Family Offense
- Letter to Congress expressing support for S. 1925, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011 (February 2012) (February 01, 2012) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Violence Against Women Act
- Testimony before the New York City Council in support of Res. No. 1064 which calls upon Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (February 2012) (February 01, 2012) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Violence Against Women Act
- Report to the Law Revision Commission highlighting crucial issues that should be examined in the Commission's assessment of the maintenance laws of the state and the economic consequence of divorce on the parties (November 01, 2011) PDF
  
  Author(s): Sex & Law Committee Domestic Violence Committee Matrimonial Law Committee Family Court & Family Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Divorce and Maintenance Laws
- Amicus Brief: Valdez v. City of New York (New York State Court of Appeals, July 2011) (July 01, 2011) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Orders of Protection
- Report on A.9024/S.6994, in relation to preventing housing discrimination against victims of domestic violence (Reissued May 2012) (June 01, 2011) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee Civil Rights Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Discrimination
- Letter to Governor Cuomo highlighting some of the most important issues related to domestic violence in New York State to be considered during his term (February 01, 2011) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Domestic Violence Transition Memo
- Report on A.1055-B/S.4460-A which would prohibit housing discrimination against victims of domestic violence (March 2010) (March 01, 2010) PDF
  
  Author(s): Civil Rights Committee Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Domestic Violence Victims
- Report on A.4516-D/S.3438-B regarding merit time for incarcerated survivors of family or household violence (Reissued January 2010) (August 01, 2009) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Domestic Violence Victims
- A755-A/S.958-B and A.1055-A/S.4460 which would prohibit employment discrimination and housing discrimination against victims of domestic violence (June 2009) (June 01, 2009) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee Civil Rights Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Discrimination
- Report on A.8375 which would amend the Family Court Act and Criminal Procedure Law by adding certain sex offenses to enumerated family offenses (June 2009) (June 01, 2009) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Orders of Protection
- Criminal Orders of Protection in New York City (August 2008) (September 01, 2008) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Orders of Protection
- Report on A.10228/S.7185 which would permit all victims of domestic violence, including non-qualified aliens, to be eligible for emergency domestic violence residential services (May 01, 2008) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Domestic Violence, Emergency Residential Services
- Report on A.10492/S.7411 which would enhance the penalty for domestic violence perpetrators who repeatedly violate orders of protection (May 01, 2008) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Domestic Violence Perpetrators
- Report on A.10615/S.07587 which would increase the number of Family Court judges in New York City and State over the next two years (May 01, 2008) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Family Court Judges
- Report expressing support for A.6060/S.6783 which would amend the Family Court Act and the Criminal Procedure Law, in relation to orders of protection and the definition of â€œmembers of the same family or household.â€ (April 01, 2008) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Orders of Protection
- Report in support of legislation which would amend the Domestic Relations Law and Family Court Act to require a court, prior to issuing any order of custody and/or visitation, to review child abuse and maltreatment, orders of protection, warrants of arrest and sex offender registries (A.7329/S.4877) (June 01, 2007) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Child Custody
- Report in support of legislation which would authorize an experimental program in which orders of protection filed and entered by the family courts of certain counties could be transmitted by fax or electronic means to sheriffs and police departments (A.7554/S.4704) (June 01, 2007) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Electronic Filing
- Report on City Council Int. No. 305, in relation to prohibiting housing discrimination against actual or perceived victims of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking (May 01, 2005) PDF
  
  Author(s): Sex & Law Committee Domestic Violence Committee Civil Rights Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Discrimination
- Letter to NYC Housing Authority urging that it continue and strengthen efforts to ensure that its policies most effectively help battered women seek and maintain safety (May 01, 2005) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee Sex & Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Domestic Violence
- Choosing Between Batterers Education Program Models: Recommendations to the New York City Domestic Violence Criminal and Family Courts (October 01, 2004) PDF
  
  Author(s): Domestic Violence Committee
  
  Subject Area(s): Batterers Education
News
- NYC Bar Association makes plea to Chief Judge DiFiore over ICE arrests in the courts (Brooklyn Daily Eagle) (July 11, 2018)
- City Bar Calls on NY Chief Judge to Issue New Rules on ICE Courthouse Arrests (New York Law Journal) (July 11, 2018)
- City Bar Issues Recommendations in Response to ICE Arrests in New York State Courthouses (July 11, 2018)
- New York City Bar Association Announces 2018 Kathryn A. McDonald Award Winners (May 23, 2018)
- 2017 McDonald Awards (New York Law Journal) (May 25, 2017)
- New York City Bar Association Announces 2017 Kathryn A. McDonald Award Winners (May 16, 2017)
- The City Bar’s Response to the New Administration (February 15, 2017)
- City Bar Announces 2016 Kathryn A. McDonald Award Winners (May 12, 2016)
- New York City Bar Announces 2015 Kathryn A. McDonald Award Winners (May 06, 2015)
- New York City Bar Announces 2014 Kathryn A. McDonald Award Winners (April 29, 2014)
- A New Day? Language Access and NYC's New Administration (April 01, 2014)
- New York City Bar Announces 2013 Kathryn A. McDonald Award Winners (April 26, 2013)
- City Bar Provides Recommendations to Law Revision Commission on Divorce Maintenance Laws (November 03, 2011)
- New York City Bar Association Announces the 2011 Kathryn A. McDonald Award Winners (April 13, 2011)
Resources

Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Sexual Assault Resources in New York City
Of Interest

Huffington Post blog--Gender-Based Violence Has No Place in New York City--by Rebecca Iwerks, Anna Ognibene and Elisabeth Wickeri

Policy Recommendations for New York City's Next Mayor (PDF)

Video: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the New York State Family Court

Domestic Violence Committee

The Domestic Violence Committee engages in policy and legal analysis, and attorney and public education on issues relating to domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence. Recent topics addressed by the Committee include police accountability for responding to domestic abuse, housing and employment discrimination against survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and sentencing for defendants who are domestic violence survivors.