What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Authorizes use of closed-circuit television for the testimony of domestic violence victim witnesses in a criminal proceeding
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Crystal Peoples-Stokes
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S33
Title of bill
An act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to authorizing the use of closed-circuit television for vulnerable domestic violence victim witnesses
Purpose
Article 65 of the criminal procedure law is amended to permit the use of closed circuit television for the testimony of victims of alleged domestic violence.
Summary of provisions
Amends article 65 of the criminal procedure law to include a domestic violence victim witness as a vulnerable person who may testify in a criminal proceeding, concerning an offense defined in subdivision 1 of section 530.11 of the criminal procedure law or an offense committed by a member of such individual's immediate family as defined in subdivision 4 of section 120.40 of the penal law.
Justification
Over two-thirds of violent victimizations against women were committed by someone known to them. Approximately 28% were intimates such as husbands or boyfriends, 35% were acquaintances, and the remaining 5% were other relatives.
Females accounted for 39% of the hospital emergency department visits for violence-related injuries in 1994 while 84% of these persons were treated for injuries inflicted by intimates. 31,260 women were murdered by an intimate from 1976-1996.
Very often, vulnerable witnesses are reluctant to testify about crimes that have been committed against them out of fear; Allowing these witnesses to testify in the physical absence of their abuser may help facilitate their willingness to come forward and testify.
Legislative history
2011-12: S.1706
Fiscal implications
Nominal.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.