Domestic homicides increase 10% in 2010 | Crime

COLONIE - According to information gathered by state agencies and released Monday, last year 44 per cent of adult female homicide victims in New York State were killed by an intimate partner.

For men, the difference is dramatic, only one point seven per cent were killed by an intimate partner.

"That sadly relates to a woman's home being the most dangerous place in New York State for her to be," said Sean Byrne, the acting commissioner of the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. "It demonstrates that domestic homicides are the largest sub-category of overall homicides of women."

New York compiles this information to inform executive decision-making and to try to improve its response to domestic violence.

They've under taken a number of steps intended to attack the problem.

"The (police) officers are trained on specific things to do to diffuse that situation but also to inform the parties that they will be back for subsequent visits," said Byrne. "On those subsequent visits they're going back to ensure that the victim remains safe, that orders of protection are being honored." 

Officials say New York is the only state to staff an office for the prevention of domestic violence.

There is a 24 hour a day telephone hotline for victims of domestic and sexual violence. The telephone number is 1-800-942-66906 (English) and 1-800-942-6908 (Spanish).