Our Blog

Share This

Safe Horizon Supports Expansion of DNA Databank – Join us in Making New York a Safer Place

Michael Polenberg, Vice President for Government Affairs
Michael Polenberg is Safe Horizon’s Vice President for Government Affairs who partners with government agencies and elected officials to advocate on behalf of victims of crime and abuse.

Safe Horizon’s CEO Ariel Zwang recently joined the Governor’s office, district attorneys, and survivors of violence to call on the New York State Assembly to pass the Governor’s “all crimes DNA” proposal.  Ariel noted in her remarks that “the All Crimes DNA bill is a powerful tool in finding justice for survivors of crime, and in preventing our family members, friends and neighbors from experiencing violence.”

This legislation, which has already passed the State Senate, would expand the State’s DNA databank to include all felonies and penal law misdemeanors.

The press conference was particularly notable for the testimony of three women who experienced the crushing impact of violence in their lives.

Ann M., whose young daughter was raped in her bedroom, spoke passionately about the devastating impact this event had on her family.  Noting that this rapist attacked again and again until a DNA sample taken upon conviction of a petit larceny charge tied him to her daughter’s attack, Ann asked, “How many more serial rapists are we allowing to roam the streets of New York, for no other reason than that we have not expanded our DNA databank?”  She asked the Assembly to support the Governor’s proposal “…because what happened to my daughter can happen to anyone’s child.”

Tynetta Megginson, whose mother was murdered in her apartment, asked the legislature to honor her mother by passing this proposal into law.  “Expanding the use of New York’s DNA Databank will help victims and families of violent crime survivors heal.”

Natasha Alexanko, a rape survivor who has been a vocal advocate in support of DNA databank expansion, said: “My rapist is a serial criminal who is no longer victimizing people thanks to a DNA match.  Collecting DNA from all convicted criminal defendants will be instrumental in preventing the needless suffering of crime victims, such as myself.”

Those who oppose this bill cite a litany of factors – concern about identification procedures in police lineups, or the sanctity of the DNA samples in the State’s laboratories.  But the testimony of Ann, Tynetta and Natasha reminds us that this bill is simply about justice – for those impacted by violent crime, for those who won’t be victimized because offenders have been held accountable, and for those who are exonerated.

The Governor’s proposal will make New York a safer place for communities in every county.  We thank everyone who is speaking up for a safer New York, particularly those impacted by violence and who have found the strength and courage to add their voices to this effort.  For Ann, Tynetta, Natasha and the thousands of other victims across New York whose lives have been forever changed by violence, we urge the State Assembly to pass the Governor’s proposal into law as soon as possible.

To get involved, please visit http://www.governor.ny.gov/BuildingaNewNY/dna-databank.  You can click on the “Assembly” link and ask your State Assembly Member to support A. 8547-A, the “All-Crimes DNA” bill. Thank you for your assistance!  

NY Governor’s Budget Includes Important Proposals for Victims of Violence and Abuse

Michael Polenberg, Vice President, Government Affairs
Michael Polenberg is Safe Horizon’s Vice President for Government Affairs who partners with government agencies and elected officials to advocate on behalf of victims of crime and abuse.

With continuing economic pressures threatening the viability of valuable programs serving victims of violence and abuse, we are pleased that the budget proposal for SFY 2012-2013 released on January 17 by NY Governor Andrew Cuomo largely avoids the "across the board" approach to cuts that we have seen too often in recent years.  While we do have some real concerns about the budget proposal – in particular the elimination of funding for Statewide non-residential domestic violence programs for the third year in a row – we are pleased that the budget also includes:

• New funding to expand the State’s DNA databank to include all felony and penal law misdemeanor convictions, a step that will bring justice to crime victims, prevent further violence from taking place, and exonerate the wrongfully charged;
• An expansion of the State Central Registry to allow New Yorkers to report suspected abuse of persons with psychiatric disabilities, developmental disabilities, the elderly and other vulnerable populations; and
• Continued State funding for Child Advocacy Centers, domestic violence shelters, court-based programs for crime victims and other critical services.
• So now that the budget proposal has been released, what happens next?

Between now and the beginning of April when the budget must be adopted, Safe Horizon will:

• Partner with other providers to ask the legislature to restore $1.4 million in funding for non-residential domestic violence programs. These programs assist victims of domestic violence in a variety of settings – courtrooms, legal clinics, Family Justice Centers – who have chosen not to enter domestic violence shelters or who have recently left that system.  For Safe Horizon, this funding supports case managers in our Family Court and Integrated Domestic Violence Court programs in Queens, and allows us to provide a wide range of assistance to New Yorkers in crisis.
• Join forces with the Governor’s office, victim advocates and law enforcement to expand the State’s DNA databank.  Right now in New York State, persons convicted of felonies and certain misdemeanors are obligated to provide a DNA sample. Unfortunately, this accounts for less than fifty-percent of the crimes in New York.  An expanded DNA databank that includes all felonies and penal law misdemeanors will help solve crimes that continue to haunt victims and their families for years, sometimes decades.  By holding those who commit these crimes accountable, we will in turn prevent additional heinous crimes from taking place.  Finally, it will also help exonerate those who might otherwise be charged and convicted of crimes they did not commit.  It is a sensible, cost-effective measure to protect thousands of New Yorkers from the trauma of violence, rape, sexual assault and homicide.  We are proud to stand with the Governor in support of this effort and look forward to its passage in the months ahead.

For more on the importance of the DNA Databank legislation, check out these recent op-eds by some of our partners:
http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/The-more-DNA-the-better-2684292.php

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/opinion/collect-dna-samples-even-when-its-just-a-misdemeanor.html?_r=1

Find out more:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/opinion/collect-dna-samples-even-when-its-just-a-misdemeanor.html?_r=1