MELVILLE, NEW YORK — Russell I. Marnell of Marnell Law Group, P.C. is reminding everyone that October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and is urging victims to obtain help from both the police and legal counsel, in order to secure their safety.
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month was formed in 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence to help battered women’s advocates across the country connect with each other. Domestic violence is not restricted to physical violence; it also consists of stalking, menacing, harassment, disorderly conduct and grand larceny, as well as unlawful dissemination or publication of intimate images. “It’s been reported that, as more people become aware of this designation, they are coming forward seeking orders of protection against their abusers,” says Mr. Marnell.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, an estimated 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are abused by their partner every year. In addition, a woman is beaten or assaulted every nine seconds and 25% of men experience physical violence by their partner. Mr. Marnell says, although he has seen women seeking orders of protection, he has also represented men in these situations.
“Men have definitely come to me seeking restraining orders or orders of protection,” he says. “Men usually won’t make an abuse claim, unless there was something egregious, like the use of a weapon during an abusive situation.”
Domestic violence became more prevalent during the coronavirus lockdown. Data from The Marshall Project showed that, in Suffolk County, there was an 18% increase in calls reporting domestic violence to the police, while Nassau County police received 10% more domestic violence calls during the lockdown.
In the event a partner is being abused, Mr. Marnell strongly recommends calling the police and collecting as much evidence as possible against the abuser, including tape recording the perpetrator, which is allowed in New York State. “New York is a ‘one-party consent’ state regarding the audio recordings of conversations, as long as one party consents to the recordings — in this case, the person subjected to domestic violence — and the person making the recording is involved in the conversation,” he says. “Victims should also seek medical treatment for their injuries, which will help support their claims of domestic violence.”
The New York State Unified Court System has deemed filing temporary orders of protection and emergency family offense petitions in Family Court as essential. Filing temporary orders of protection, including, but not limited to, matters involving domestic violence, in state Supreme Court is also considered essential. “If you are in an abusive situation and you are seeking protection, contact a divorce or family law attorney immediately,” Mr. Marnell says.
For more information, call (516) 542-9000 or visit www.marnelllaw.com.
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About Marnell Law Group, P.C.
Located in Melville, New York, Marnell Law Group, P.C. concentrates in divorce and family law matters, including complex custody, equitable distribution, child support and maintenance issues. Founded in 1985, the firm continues to provide its New York metro area clients with excellent representation and service. While the attorneys at Marnell Law Group, P.C. will negotiate vigorously to settle your matter, should a matter need to proceed to trial, clients may rest assured that Mr. Marnell’s vast and extremely successful trial experience will put them at a great advantage. Mr. Marnell is a fellow of the esteemed American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He has been selected as a Metro New York Super Lawyer in the practice area of Family Law. Mr. Marnell has also received the Martindale-Hubbell AV rating — the highest rating an attorney can achieve. He is a member of the Matrimonial Committees of the Nassau and Suffolk County Bar Associations and the New York Family Law American Inns of Court, as well as a frequent lecturer and contributing writer; Mr. Marnell has been published in the Nassau Lawyer, Suffolk Lawyer and the New York Law Journal, among others. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call (516) 542-9000 or visit www.marnelllaw.com.
