Nassau, NY – U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $899,721 for Nassau County to enhance safety of domestic violence victims by updating the police department’s CAPER (Criminal Apprehension Provided by Electronic Response) alarm system and to maximize the convictions of abusers by training police department on accessing critical information on chronic domestic violence offenders. The federal grant is being awarded through the Department of Justice’s Violence Against Women Program.
“Protecting victims of domestic violence is an enormous priority and this investment in the Nassau County police department’s alarm system will provide greater information about chronic domestic violence offenders and ultimately, improve safety in our communities,” said Schumer. “I am pleased such an important federal investment is being made in Nassau County so we can help keep women safe.”
“It is critical that we provide victims of sexual and domestic violence with the support and safety they need,” Gillibrand said. “These federal dollars will put the resources we need on the ground to effectively enhance safety of victims and hold offenders accountable.”
“In Nassau County we treat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking as serious violations of the law,” said County Executive Edward Mangano. “This Federal funding will allow Nassau County to enhance victim safety by updating the CAPER (Criminal Apprehension Provided by Electronic Response) alarm system being utilized by the Nassau County Police Department. In addition, funds will facilitate the training of police department personnel to access an electronic database and obtain current information regarding chronic domestic violence offenders which, in turn, will maximize the convictions of domestic violence perpetrators.”
Federal funding will help enhance victim safety and offender accountability in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking by encouraging localities to implement pro-arrest 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.