SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE CITY OF TROY SET TO RECEIVE ALMOST $300K IN DEPT. OF JUSTICE GRANT; INVESTMENT WILL IMPROVE SERVICES, BETTER PROTECT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the City of Troy was awarded a $299,148 Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program (Arrest) Grant from the Department of Justice. Specifically, the city will partner with Unity House of Troy, Inc. and Rensselaer County Probation and use this funding to encourage arrests, enforce orders of protection, and increase victim safety. This project will enhance the policies and procedures related to the arrest of domestic violence perpetrators and offenders and the enforcement of orders of protection, while providing victims services and offering optimum support.

"This is great law enforcement  investment in the City of Troy that will support better enforcement of orders of protection, making for a safer environment for atrisk for children, mothers, families and seniors," said Senator Schumer. "When it comes to protecting our citizens we must be tough and smart, and these community partnerships and increased enforcement will do just that."

"This is a key investment for the City of Troy," Senator Gillibrand said. "When we do more to protect families from domestic violence, we can hold more violent offenders accountable, give victims a sense of justice and help put their lives back together, and keep more New Yorkers safe."

With this funding, the City of Troy will continue to: 1) improve policies and enhance training for law enforcement; 2) expand and coordinate resources to encourage arrest and enforce orders of protection; 3) promote victim safety and confidentiality; 4) improve response to underserved populations; and 5) increase monitoring of offenders on probation.  This funding also locates the Troy Police Department's Domestic Incident Unit within the domestic violence program. The unit, staffed by a sergeant and a detective, work closely with Unity House's Police Advocates, conducting unsolicited joint home visits to victims following domestic incident reports.

The Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program (Arrest) implements certain provisions of the Violence Against Women Act, which was enacted in September 1994 as Title IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, reauthorized in the Violence Against Women Act of 2000, 2005, and 2013. The program enhances victim safety and offender accountability in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking by encouraging jurisdictions to implement proarrest policies as an effective intervention that is part of a coordinated community response. An integral component of the Arrest Program is the creation and enhancement of collaborative partnerships between criminal justice agencies, victim services providers, and community organizations which respond to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.