Close NY’s domestic violence loopholes
The Issue
As a resident of Monroe County, I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of domestic violence on families and communities. These are not isolated incidents; they are part of a systemic issue exacerbated by lenient plea bargains that allow violent offenders to walk away with minimal consequences. Every year, countless individuals in our county—and across New York State—experience violent domestic assaults, only to find that the justice system fails them by prioritizing swift plea deals over their safety and well-being.
New York State laws currently allow plea bargains that reduce serious violent charges to lesser offenses, facilitating lighter sentences for perpetrators of intentional harm. Specifically, New York Penal Law § 121.11 has a glaring gap: it does not adequately address the severity of suffocation and choking. These actions can lead to serious injury or death, yet they are often met with mere slap-on-the-wrist consequences that fail to deter offenders or protect victims.
The consequences of these lenient practices are dire. Women, children, and vulnerable individuals are left defenseless, living with constant fear of further violence. It is unconscionable that in a state as progressive as New York, the law fails to hold offenders fully accountable for their actions, repeatedly putting victims back into harm's way.
We need immediate legislative changes to close these gaps. Our lawmakers must introduce reforms that ensure suffocation and choking are met with stringent legal repercussions, reflecting the grave nature of these acts. Moreover, we must eliminate plea deals for violent offenders in domestic violence cases where repeated aggression is evident.
Let us learn from other states that have successfully implemented stricter laws and have seen a decrease in domestic violence recidivism. By doing so, New York can set a standard of safety and justice, ensuring that victims are truly protected and offenders receive sentences that match the gravity of their crimes.
Please sign this petition to demand that New York State lawmakers take action to close these harmful loopholes and provide the security and justice that domestic violence survivors so desperately need. Together, we can create a safer future for all New Yorkers.
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The Issue
As a resident of Monroe County, I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of domestic violence on families and communities. These are not isolated incidents; they are part of a systemic issue exacerbated by lenient plea bargains that allow violent offenders to walk away with minimal consequences. Every year, countless individuals in our county—and across New York State—experience violent domestic assaults, only to find that the justice system fails them by prioritizing swift plea deals over their safety and well-being.
New York State laws currently allow plea bargains that reduce serious violent charges to lesser offenses, facilitating lighter sentences for perpetrators of intentional harm. Specifically, New York Penal Law § 121.11 has a glaring gap: it does not adequately address the severity of suffocation and choking. These actions can lead to serious injury or death, yet they are often met with mere slap-on-the-wrist consequences that fail to deter offenders or protect victims.
The consequences of these lenient practices are dire. Women, children, and vulnerable individuals are left defenseless, living with constant fear of further violence. It is unconscionable that in a state as progressive as New York, the law fails to hold offenders fully accountable for their actions, repeatedly putting victims back into harm's way.
We need immediate legislative changes to close these gaps. Our lawmakers must introduce reforms that ensure suffocation and choking are met with stringent legal repercussions, reflecting the grave nature of these acts. Moreover, we must eliminate plea deals for violent offenders in domestic violence cases where repeated aggression is evident.
Let us learn from other states that have successfully implemented stricter laws and have seen a decrease in domestic violence recidivism. By doing so, New York can set a standard of safety and justice, ensuring that victims are truly protected and offenders receive sentences that match the gravity of their crimes.
Please sign this petition to demand that New York State lawmakers take action to close these harmful loopholes and provide the security and justice that domestic violence survivors so desperately need. Together, we can create a safer future for all New Yorkers.
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Petition created on September 12, 2026