Domestic Violence
To the Editor:
Re “Hours Apart, Two Officers Die in the Line of Duty: In Brooklyn, Falling Over a Railing in a Scuffle” (news article, March 14):
Police respond to more than 700 similar incidents each day, yet domestic violence remains underreported. Each day, thousands of New Yorkers experience violence at the hands of someone they love. But only a fraction of victims know where to get help.
All too often, victims may underestimate their risk. The recent events remind us how volatile domestic violence incidents can be and potentially how tragic they can become. We can all make this stop.
Anyone can call 311 for New York City’s 24/7 domestic violence hot line, or come to one of the city’s three Family Justice Centers, regardless of immigration status or language. At the centers, victims can meet with trained advocates to understand their risk and create a safety plan, meet with a prosecutor, and/or apply for housing and financial assistance while their children play safely in the next room.
Yolanda B. Jimenez
New York, March 14, 2011
New York, March 14, 2011
The writer is commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence.
