Diffusingdomesticviolence
Shockingstatistics Preventioniskey
Guiderheadsagroupcalled SchaeferisamemberofNorthernNew
SchenectadyStandUpGuysandsaidhe YorkCall2Men(NNYC2M).Itsmissionis
wouldliketoseethestatemakeastronger ”toeducateourselvesandothersonthe
efforttostopdomesticandsexualviolence. socialchangesneededtoendviolence
“AsfarasSchenectadyStandUpGuys againstwomen.”
isconcerned,whenyouhave70percentof “Ifyoulookatthestatisticswithout
policecallsforservicebeingdomestic;50 pushinganagenda,thousandsofcrimes
percentofthedistrictattorney’scases arecommittedbymenagainstwomen.It
beingdomestic;70to80percentofthe cangotheotherwaytoo,butthemajority
GUIDER
familycourtcasesbeingdomestic;and,50 ofthetimeit’sthemendoingtheharm,”
percentoftheonepublicdefender’scases Schaefersaid.
beingdomestic,somethingneedstobe “NNYC2Misaboutprimaryprevention.
changed,”Guidersaid. Weneedtoeducateourselvesandothers
ByDEBORAHA.MILES
SchenectadyStandUpGuyswrote onthesocialchangesneededtoend
InupstateNewYork,aswellasaround
letterstotheeditor,contactedthemayor’s violenceagainstwomen.”
thecountry,thingsarechangingwhenit
office,citycouncilrepresentativesandthe Thisgrouphasspreadtheword
comestodiffusingdomesticviolence.More
districtattorney’soffice.Itbecameapart throughouttheGlensFallsareathrough
andmoremenaregettinginvolvedand
ofthelocalCoordinatedCommunity filmforums,golfoutings,participationin
PEFmembershavebeentakingthelead.
Response(CCR)taskforce,andhas marches,andpublicspeaking
EdGuider,acriminaljusticeprogram
decidedtoconcentrateitseffortson engagements.Nowitisgettingitsmessage
representativeatthestateDivisionof
makingsystemsoperatewithfullsteam. acrosstorepresentativesatlocalhigh
CriminalJusticeServices,
Thegroupdoesalotofcommunity schoolsandcolleges.
ispassionateabout
outreachthroughtownmeetings,church “Everyguyknowsawomanwhohas
changingthenumberone
groupsandneighborhoodassociations. beenaffectedbydomesticviolence.
women’shealthissuein
“Schenectadyhastheworstreported Abusivemenwalkaroundwithanattitude
thecountry,accordingto
domesticviolencestatisticsinthestate ofentitlement.‘Imakethegold,Imakethe
theU.S.SurgeonGeneral’s
accordingtoSen.CharlesSchumer,” rules’kindofthinking.That’sgottogo,”
Office.
Guidersaid.“Thereisarenewedemphasis Schaefersaid.
SoisBillSchaefer,a
tostopdomesticviolenceandsexual “Whentheygetcaught,thesecases
communitycorrection
abuse.Thedistrictattorneyrecently greasetheirwaythroughthecriminal
representative2atthe
receivedagrantfor$178,000andsaid justicesystem.Theywalkintocourtwitha
SCHAEFER
stateDivisionofProbation
stoppingdomesticviolencewillbethe harassmentcharge.Inthisstate,that’s
andCorrectional
priorityofhisofficein2010.” equivalenttoatrafficticket,fordoingsome
Alternatives.Hedevelops
Guiderissteadfastongettingmore prettynastystuff.Ifwecanchangetheir
resourcesandprovides
communityawarenessandwouldliketo thinkingpattersbeforeviolenceisused,we
trainingforprobationofficersonhowto
seemorePEFmembersbecomeinvolvedin willendupwithfewerhomicides,”hesaid.
respondtodomesticviolenceoffendersand
theiragencypreventionprogramsfor GuiderandSchaefersaidthereare
victims.
domesticviolence. approximatelytwodozenmenineachof
Andthey’remakingadifferenceontheir
“Thereisarequirementforunion theirgroups,withwomenwhoprovide
owntime,volunteeringasadvocatesfor
involvementinExecutiveOrder19,butnot leadershipanddirection.Theyaretwo
victimsofdomesticandsexualabuse.
allPEFactivistshavetakenadvantageof examplesofPEFmemberswhohopemore
Throughseparateorganizations,theyare
thisopportunity,”Guidersaid.“Andsome menwillrealizedomesticviolenceisn’tjust
raisingawarenessincommunitiesthat
agencieshaveignoredtheunion awomen’sissue.It’salsomenteaching
injuriousbehaviorisunacceptable.
participationrequirement.” mentodotherightthing.
Memberstransfertootherfacilitiesafterlayoffs
NinePEFmembersattheBernard closingtheHowardParkunit.Boththe forpeople,andithasdonesomeofthat.
FinesonDevelopmentalDisabilities unionandstatehopeditcouldbedone OMRDDwantstokeeppeopleworking
ServicesOfficeinQueensVillagewere throughattrition. andnotontheunemploymentline.”
givennoticeinNovembertheywerebeing PEFExecutiveBoardmemberEd PEFDivision207CouncilLeader
laidoff. Snow,PEF’slabor-managementchairfor ElizabethCheesesaidtheninepeople
PEFPresidentKenBrynienwrotea OMRDD,saidtheagencyhasbeen includeamentalhygienestaff
lettertoGov.DavidPatersonstatinghis extremelycooperativeinworkingwiththe developmentspecialist3whohasworked
concerntheactionviolatesthegovernor’s union. atBernardFinesonfor16years,seven
no-layoffagreementwithPEF. “OMRDDhasworkedhardwithPEFto habilitationspecialistsandonerecreation
PEFhadbeenawareformonthsthe makesurenoonehitsthestreets,”Snow therapist.Cheesesaidseveralhavebeen
stateOfficeofMentalRetardationand said.“Weareworkingtogethertofindjobs transferredtootherfa
DevelopmentalDisabilities(OMRDD) forthesemembersinotherlocations.The
neededtoreduceitsworkforcebecauseof agencywantedtofindjobsandpositions —
cilitiesandevery
attemptisbeingmadetorelocatetherest.
DeborahA.Miles
Page12—TheCommunicatorFebruary2010 PEFInformationLine:1-800-553-2445
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