Westchester County Awarded $1 Million Federal Grant to Strengthen Domestic Violence High-Risk Response and Victim Services

Westchester County has been awarded a $1 million federal grant to strengthen the County’s coordinated response to high-risk domestic violence cases, expand victim support services, improve offender accountability and enhance partnerships between law enforcement, advocates and service providers. The funding will support the County’s Domestic Violence High Risk Team (DVHRT), a multidisciplinary initiative focused on identifying and responding to domestic violence situations that present the greatest risk of serious injury or homicide.

 

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “Domestic violence thrives in silence and isolation. This funding allows Westchester County and our partners to continue building a system that intervenes earlier, responds faster and provides meaningful support to victims and survivors when they need it most. Through collaboration between law enforcement, victim advocates, healthcare providers and community organizations, we are working to save lives and strengthen protections for some of our most vulnerable residents.”

 

Westchester County Office for Women Acting Director Catherine Borgia said: “Westchester’s Domestic Violence High Risk Team has transformed the way victims of intimate partner violence are supported in crisis. By bringing together law enforcement, victim service providers, healthcare professionals and community partners, we have built a coordinated response that puts victim safety at the center of every decision. This model has strengthened collaboration across agencies, improved outcomes for survivors and is now being recognized as a best practice throughout New York State. We are incredibly proud of what this partnership has accomplished and the lives it continues to impact every day.”

 

To date, the DVHRT, with the help of every law enforcement agency in Westchester County, has identified and served over 7,600 victims of intimate partner violence identified as high risk.  In addition, the DVHRT Training Team has trained over 5,000 members of law enforcement in the use of the danger assessment tool and the best practices for interviewing victims in a trauma-informed and victim-centered way. Thanks to the support of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety leadership, the DVHRT is also on the curriculum for the police recruit training academy, the Police Supervisor's School and the annual in-service training schedule.

 

Westchester County Commissioner of Probation Rocco Pozzi said: “County Executive Jenkins has consistently supported the Department of Probation’s efforts to deliver innovative programming and critical services to victims and families across Westchester County. We are grateful for that support, which, when supplemented by this grant award, will help expand our collaborative work with the Office for Women and our community partners to better serve victims of domestic violence.”

 

Westchester County Commissioner of Public Safety Terrance Raynor said: “Every person deserves to feel safe, especially in their own home. The Department of Public Safety remains committed to working closely with all our partner agencies to ensure that victims of domestic violence receive appropriate support when incidents occur. The Westchester County Police has rigorous protocols in place that guide our Patrol officers when they respond to domestic violence incidents and guide our detectives for follow-up investigation.”

 

The DVHRT provides intensive safety planning and vital resources while working with law enforcement and Probation for enhanced offender accountability through specialized training. It began as a five-town pilot program and has now expanded countywide. In 2024, DVHRT became New York State’s model for coordinated community response to domestic violence. DVHRT is led by Project Director David Ryan.

 

Ryan said: “We are deeply grateful for the support from the County Executive and Board of Legislators and for the continued financial support and investment in strengthening our domestic violence high-risk response efforts in Westchester County. This grant will continue to enhance our ability to protect victims, improve collaboration among partner agencies, and provide life-saving interventions for individuals and families facing extreme risk and high levels of violence in the home. Together, we are building a safer and more responsive community for those in crisis.”

 

For this renewal grant, the Office for Women has partnered with the Department of Probation. Other core DVHRT partners include the Department of Public Safety, District Attorney’s Office, Hope’s Door, My Sisters’ Place, Putnam/Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center, Pace Women’s Justice Center, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley and Westchester Medical Center, who operates the 24/7 High Risk Hotline (LAPline).