Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol was joined Wednesday…

Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol was joined Wednesday morning at a press conference by members of the Oneida County Sheriff's Office, Herkimer County Sheriff Scott Scherer, Utica Police Chief Mark Williams, Rome Police Chief Kevin James, Oneida County District Attorney Todd Carville, several domestic violence advocates, NYS Senator Joseph Griffo, and NYS Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon all coming together to urge Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the legislation recently passed by the NYS Assembly (A4899-C) and the NYS Senate (S2280) that would require that a lethality assessment be done by law enforcement at all domestic violence cases. The newly adopted lethality assessment would be incorporated into the standardized domestic incident report that is currently used by law enforcement throughout the state. This amendment will greatly help officers identify victims who are at the greatest risk of serious injury or death and connect them with domestic violence services before a tragedy occurs.

"I strongly urge Governor Hochul to sign this critical bill that will save lives. It will ensure that everything possible is being done to protect the survivors of domestic violence while at the same time it will hold the offenders fully accountable", according to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol. " I want to thank all of my fellow Sheriffs throughout the state who support this legislation and helped get it over the finish line".

Domestic violence remains one of the most dangerous and unpredictable categories of incident that police respond to. The encounters that follow a domestic call are too often the ones that turn deadly—for victims, for family members, and for responding officers themselves. This bill gives law enforcement a practical, evidence-based tool to gauge the danger a victim faces at the moment of contact, and it does so by building on the domestic incident report process already familiar to every officer in the State.

"The passage of New York’s Lethality Assessment Bill represents a significant step forward in protecting victims of domestic violence and saving lives. Far too often, warning signs of escalating violence are missed, leaving victims without the intervention and support they desperately need. This legislation helps ensure that law enforcement officers have a proven tool to identify those at the highest risk of serious injury or homicide and connect them with critical services before it is too late. Research has consistently shown that early identification and intervention can make the difference between life and death. I want to thank all of the legislators who supported this measure along with Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol and the New York State Sheriff's Association. Their leadership demonstrates a commitment to strengthening victim safety and improving outcomes for families across New York State. As someone who has witnessed the devastating consequences of domestic violence, I believe every step we take to recognize danger earlier and provide victims with access to resources is a step toward preventing future tragedies. I urge Governor Hochul to sign this bill into law and help make New York a leader in proactive victim protection", according to Joseph Petito, father of Gabby Petito & founder of the Gabby Petito Foundation.

This legislation adds a clearly designated set of lethality assessment questions to the standardized domestic incident report form. The questions track the factors that research and field experience have shown to be the strongest predictors of escalation to serious violence—prior use of or threats with a weapon, threats to kill, strangulation or choking, access to a firearm, extreme jealousy and controlling behavior, recent separation, and stalking, among others. By asking each victim the same questions, in the same words and the same order, the bill promotes consistency across jurisdictions and ensures that no high-risk case slips through simply because the right questions were never asked.

"I am proud to have co-sponsored this important legislation, which will provide law enforcement with another tool, a lethality assessment, to enhance their life-saving efforts for domestic violence victims. Combined with the immediate provision of domestic violence resources, the implementation of these uniform lethality assessment requirements will provide enhanced coordination across the state in the application and reporting of facts during a domestic situation, better enabling life-saving interventions. I would like to thank Sheriff Maciol, as I stand with him in solidarity today to urge the Governor to sign this legislation into law so we can better serve victims of this horrendous crime", according to NYS Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon.

“I am pleased to join with law enforcement, my partners in government, and other stakeholders to urge the governor to sign this legislation. Lethality assessments are a useful tool for law enforcement agencies responding to domestic violence situations. These evaluations can empower and protect victims, reduce violent incidents, and potentially save lives", according to NYS Senator Joseph Griffo.

Under this bill, law enforcement advises the victim of the results of the assessment, they refer the victim to the local domestic violence program, and provides the New York State domestic and sexual violence hotline. Officers follow the scoring and referral directions on the report, including sharing the report with the local domestic violence program and any applicable high-risk teams. This coordinated, multi-disciplinary response reflects the model that has proven most effective in reducing domestic violence homicides, and it strengthens the working relationship between law enforcement agencies and the advocates and service providers in their communities.

YWCA Mohawk Valley CEO Dianne Stancato states, “Any and all efforts to deepen assessment in DV incidents, increase recognition of warning signs, and continue advancing support for survivors will indeed save lives. Our team will partner with law enforcement, as always, to provide expert advocacy and support in high risk instances which this legislation will help more keenly identify. We urge Governor Hochul to sign this imperative bill.”

Importantly, this bill works within systems our members already use. It does not create a separate reporting regime or a freestanding bureaucracy; it enhances the domestic incident report that officers complete today and routes the results into existing referral and protective mechanisms. That makes the reform both practical to implement and durable in the field.

“Domestic violence can be lethal. Risk of serious injury or homicide often escalates when an abuser’s control is challenged, particularly during separation. The Oneida County District Attorney’s Office through our STRIVE initiative has encouraged all of our local law enforcement agencies to utilize lethality assessment. The lethality assessment informs law enforcement so we can assist the victims/survivors in directing them to access services necessary to successfully navigate to safety and provide justice”, according to Oneida County District Attorney Todd Carville.

“As someone whose family has been forever changed by domestic violence, I believe this legislation is an important and necessary step toward saving lives. When our officers understand the extent of abuse and the potential for lethal escalation in a home, they are better equipped to respond, support victims, keep themselves safe, and intervene before tragedy occurs. I commend Sheriff Maciol for his ongoing leadership and advocacy on this critical issue. I also strongly urge Governor Hochul to sign this bill into law", according to Gina Pierce, Founding Board Member of Kristin's Fund.

Domestic violence continues to claim lives and devastate families and communities across New York State. Giving officers a reliable means of recognizing the most dangerous situations—and a clear path to connect victims with help—will save lives.