New York State has enacted new penalties
for repeat domestic abusers, including tougher standards for bail pending
trial.
The law was signed on
Thursday (October 25). It creates
the crime of “Aggravated Family Offense.”
Under the law defendants who commit certain offenses against family members
and have a previous conviction for doing so within the past five years can be
charged with a Class E felony, punishable by up to four years in prison. The law also expands the definition of “Aggravated
Harassment in the Second Degree” to include when a defendant, with intent to
harass, annoy, threaten or alarm, causes physical injury to an individual, or
to a family or household member of that individual.
The new law also requires judges to consider various risk
factors, including access to firearms and previous violations of orders of
protection, when setting bail for people accused of a family offense.
For more on the new law and its requirements click here.
