Monticello, NY - On October 1, 2026, Sullivan County District Attorney Brian P. Conaty recognized October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and reaffirmed his office's commitment to holding abusers accountable while supporting victims from the first report through the end of their case.
Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior one person uses to gain and keep power and control over an intimate partner or family member. The NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence recognizes five forms of that control: physical, emotional, financial, technological, and sexual. These tactics rarely happen alone. An abuser may control the money, monitor a victim's phone, and cut them off from friends and family long before any physical violence occurs.
From 2020 through 2025, Sullivan County law enforcement agencies reported 1,285 domestic violence victims to the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services. Two of every three were harmed by a current or former intimate partner, and 82 percent of those victims were women. About one in three were harmed by another family member, such as a parent, child, or sibling. Because many victims never report, these numbers show only part of the problem.
The District Attorney's Office handles domestic violence cases through a victim-centered approach built on three commitments: that victims feel safe, heard, and supported. The office's Special Victims Unit, led by Executive Assistant District Attorney Jenna Hastings, has specialized prosecutors dedicated to domestic violence and other special-victim cases. The office's Crime Victim Specialist Coordinator, Jade Corelli, works alongside prosecutors to help victims through the criminal justice process by:
- Education: explaining each step of the court process, what to expect, and victims' rights under New York law
- Support: keeping victims informed about their case and accompanying them through court proceedings
- Referrals: connecting victims and their families with local non-profits, social services and domestic violence providers for safety planning, shelter, counseling, and other services
The office's crime victim services program is growing. On December 1, 2026, a new Crime Victim Advocate will join the office to support victims of misdemeanor domestic violence, reaching victims at the first recorded criminal act, before abuse escalates. This work is supported by grant funding from the NYS Office of Victim Services.
District Attorney Conaty said: "Domestic violence thrives in silence, and it is almost always about control. It can look like a bruise, but it can also look like a drained bank account, a tracked phone, or a victim slowly cut off from everyone who loves them. My office is committed to holding abusers accountable, and just as committed to making sure victims never have to go through the justice system alone. Our Special Victims Unit and Crime Victim Advocates are here to walk alongside victims, answer their questions, and connect them with the help they need. If you or someone you love is being hurt, please reach out."
Help is available:
- In immediate danger: call 911
- NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline: call 1-800-942-6906 · text 844-997- 2121 · chat at opdv.ny.gov (free, confidential, 24/7)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 · text START to 88788 · thehotline.org
- Sullivan County DA's Office Victim Advocate Services: 845-794-3344 · SCDA@sullivanny.gov
- Fearless! Hudson Valley 24/7 hotline: 845-562-5340 · fearlesshv.org
