In the News

Prosecutors, judges will be trained how to better handle domestic violence cases under the new law

February 2, 2022 | NJ.com
Governor Murphy signed new legislation into law, which expands training for judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement on the impact of domestic violence and on identifying the warning signs that an abuser may ultimately kill their victim. Back in November, Partners Melgily Valdez, Paralegal Supervisor, and Trish Perlmutter, Policy Counsel, offered testimony in support of these bills. During her testimony, Melgily pointed out "training for police officers is critical. This interaction with law enforcement is often the first time victims are able to seek assistance during one of the scariest and most traumatic moments of their lives." We would like to see expanded training to develop trauma-informed policing to better meet the needs of marginalized survivors.
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Female police officers wanted, and needed

December 7, 2021 | The Star Ledger
Partners Policy Counsel, Trish Perlmutter, and Partners Policy Analyst, Shana Kleiner, discuss the need for more female police officers, especially women of color, to better respond to New Jersey's epidemic of domestic and sexual violence.
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Domestic Violence Laws are not Strong Enough Family of Slain NJ Mom Says

August 6, 2021 | The Star Ledger
Partners Policy Counsel, Trish Perlmutter, discusses gaps in the implementation and enforcement of New Jersey's domestic violence laws and procedures in the wake of the murder of Yasemin Uyar in this Star Ledger article.
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Advocates for Good Podcast: Partners for Women and Justice with Sheri Hecht Leonard

August 5, 2021 | Partners
Partners Trustee, Sheri Hecht Leonard, talks about Partners on the Advocates for Good podcast.
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Opinion: Undocumented Must Share in NJ’s COVID Stimulus, Jobless Aid

April 28, 2021 | The Star Ledger
This Letter to the Editor by Partners’ Policy Counsel, Trish Perlmutter, discusses the need to include undocumented survivors of domestic violence in NJ’s COVID stimulus.
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Help Me 2 Understand Podcast: Episode 5 COVID-19 and Its Impact on Domestic Violence in New Jersey

January 27, 2021 | Partners
Partners’ Policy Counsel, Trish Perlmutter, talks about domestic violence and the COVID-19 pandemic on the Help Me 2 Understand podcast.
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Report: Impact of COVID-19 Intensifies the Shadow Pandemic of Domestic Violence in New Jersey

December 22, 2020 | Partners
Partners and Seton Hall Law School Center for Social Justice with assistance from McCarter & English, LLP, have released a report that examines the possible causes for the heightened prevalence and severity of domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the responses of state and social service agencies.
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Opinion: New Jersey Prison Release Bill has Serious Domestic Violence Flaw

September 17, 2020 | The Star Ledger
Partners Policy Counsel, Trish Perlmutter, wrote this opinion piece that discusses the New Jersey prison release bill pending in the State Assembly. The bill is necessary to protect inmates from COVID-19, but the bill in its current form fails to adequately protect domestic violence victims.  Neither a prison sentence nor a prison release should threaten the health and safety of any resident of the Garden State.
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COVID made it harder for domestic violence victims to get restraining orders. That’s changed.

August 3, 2020 | The Star Ledger
Partners Policy Counsel, Trish Perlmutter, is featured in this article which discusses challenges that victims faced in obtaining temporary restraining orders during COVID-19 and the changes made by the courts.
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No Contempt Charges Under Criminal Justice Reform Act, NJ High Court Rules

July 22, 2020 | New Jersey Law Journal
On July 20, the New Jersey Supreme Court held that defendants who violate pretrial release conditions cannot be charged with criminal contempt. State v. Antoine McCray; State v. Sahaile Gabourel (2020). However, the Court accepted the argument advanced by Partners, as a friend of the court, that no-contact orders must be fully enforceable in order to protect victims of domestic violence. This means that the Court carved out an exception to the holding allowing prosecutors to charge defendants with contempt if they violate no-contact orders. This decision will help deter violations of no-contact orders and protect victims of domestic violence.
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24 Diverse NJ Orgs Back Directives to Disclose Names of Offices Who Commit Misconduct

July 7, 2020 | ACLU-NJ
Partners joined the ACLU of New Jersey and 22 other diverse organizations in filing a brief in support of the Attorney General’s directives requiring the state to release information about police officer misconduct and suspensions.
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NJ Court COVID Response Causes Problems for Domestic Violence Victims

June 2, 2020 | WNYC News
Listen to Partners Policy counsel, Trish Perlmutter, on WNYC Radio! Trish was interviewed by WNYC's Nancy Solomon for a story titled "NJ Courts COVID Response Causes Problems for Domestic Violence Victims." She spoke about the urgent need to expand access to TROs through the Family Court and the challenges to victims of domestic violence in participating in Zoom Final Restraining Order trials.
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Partners for Women and Justice Praises Criminal Justice Reform Results and Urges New Jersey to Expand Efforts to Assess Domestic Violence Risk

April 5, 2020 | Insider NJ
Partners comments on New Jersey criminal justice reform. Check out the article featured on Insider NJ. More specifically, "Partners is calling on the Attorney General to convene a Working Group or Task Force on Domestic Violence risk to identify and develop effective strategies for a more risk-informed coordinated community response to domestic violence."
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Op-Ed: Task Force Needed on Criminal Justice Response to Domestic Violence

February 12, 2020 | NJ Spotlight
This Op-Ed piece written by former Executive Director, Jane Hanson; Policy Counsel, Trish Perlmutter; and by the Executive Director of the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence, Pamela Jacobs, discusses the need for a task force on the criminal justice response to domestic violence.
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Partners for Women and Justice Announces Support of Lets Drive NJ Campaign to Expand Access to Drivers Licenses to More Residents

January 17, 2020 | Insider NJ
This article discusses Partners support of Let’s Drive New Jersey’s campaign to expand access to driver’s licenses to more residents in New Jersey without regard to their immigration status.
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