BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – New York Governor Kathy Hochul has expanded protections for domestic violence cases in criminal and family court.
Under the new law, all family and household members can have the same court process which includes getting an order of protection.
The bill was signed into law yesterday for the International Day for Eliminating Violence Against Women.
Hochul told the story of a mother whose abuser went after her daughter because prior laws didn’t protect her.
“Cheryl filed the order of protection against an abusive boyfriend. That’s what you do. You go to the court, you go to the system to protect you and your family. One was granted for Cheryl, one was granted for Myles, her grandson, but under the law that stood at the time, she couldn’t protect her own daughter, Melanie. The courts were not equipped to protect her because the law did not allow it. So, when the abuser couldn’t get to her, he took it out on the most beloved person in her life — go after Melanie, and that’s exactly what he did,” said Hochul.
Hochul said it was Cheryl’s advocacy after her daughter’s death that helped this law pass.