Universal Response to
Domestic Violence

Homicide Prevention

The URDV Project Coordinator provides training and resources for law enforcement agencies in the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP), a screening tool and referral protocol for domestic violence incident response. With LAP, police identify victims of domestic violence who are at risk of being seriously injured or killed by their abusers and immediately connect them to an advocate. The Center for Victim Safety and Support then provides victims with immediate safety planning, advocacy in the criminal justice system, and access to critical services.

Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART)

The Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) works to enhance the criminal justice response to domestic violence to increase the accountability of offenders as well as increase safety of victims through coordination of services. DART is an interdisciplinary approach consisting of the Special Victims Bureau of the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office, specialized advocates at the Center for Victim Safety and Support, police officers from DART Police Departments, Probation Officers, and the URDV Project Coordinator.

Statewide Targeted Reductions in Intimate Partner Violence (STRIVE) Initiative

The STRIVE Initiative is a New York State initiative designed to combat domestic violence by bringing together law enforcement, courts, probation, and victim service providers to create a coordinated, trauma-informed response to intimate partner abuse. Coordinated by Family Services’ Project Coordinator, this work builds on Dutchess County’s previous work with special focus on the highest risk cases of domestic violence.