Politics & Government

Suffolk Notebook: County Database to Track Domestic Violence

Local nonprofits say they will use data to make decisions on outreach.

Suffolk County on Friday announced the creation of a Domestic Violence Database that will track domestic incidents across the county so that all the information can be accessed by agencies across the county that deal is providing help to victims.

Prior to its creation, domestic violence were recorded in various municipalities and state databases, making it hard to get a clear picture of how widespread these incidents are. The county will now use the database to draw analysis based on demographics and location, among other conditions.

“This database lays a path toward greater understanding of the problem areas and trends of domestic violence across Suffolk County and can further serve as a catalyst to create solutions that will substantially reduce such violence over the long-term,” Suffolk County executive Steve Bellone said in a statement.

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The county said September saw 1,070 domestic incidents entered into the database, which tracks race, relationships and location in addition to details about the incident.

“The information from the database will help the Victims Information Bureau and the other domestic violence agencies to effectively plan for the needs of victims of domestic violence in the days to come,” Pamela Johnston, executive director of the Victims Information Bureau, said in a statement.

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Jeffrey Friedman, executive director of The Retreat in Amagansett also praised the new system.

“After years of struggle with a strategy around collecting domestic violence statistics, today we finally embark on a new era that will promote a spirit of collaboration, innovation, and connection."

Pols Back Housing for Vets

The Suffolk County Legislature this week approved $1.5 million to support a plan to build rental housing for veterans at the former armed forces reserves site in Amityville.

The money will be used to help pay for roadways, curbs, sidewalks, sewer piping and lighting associated with the housing project. When completed, the development will include about 60 units of affordable rentals, many slated for female veterans or veterans with families.

The development will include a community center and parks, and is funded by a mix of county, state and federal grants, according to a county statement.

“This project is going to dramatically change the lives of many veterans for the better," Bellone said in the statement. “This project is a model for the kind of development that we want to encourage and support for our veterans.”


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