Reuters: Manhattan DA, Lawmakers Push for Stricter Abuse Law

By Joseph Ax

NEW YORK, June 3 (Reuters) - Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. threw his support Friday behind a proposal that would create a new felony charge in New York state for repeat domestic abusers.

The legislation, sponsored by state senators Martin Golden and Daniel Squadron and state Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, would subject abusers who commit two or more misdemeanor domestic violence crimes within five years to a class E felony charge, the lowest level of felony in New York.

According to the New York Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence, 38 percent of domestic violence victims are abused again within six months, Vance said. Last year, police responded to nearly 250,000 domestic violence incidents in the city.

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