Partners in the News

Liz Presnell, Esq. is just one of the extraordinary pro bono attorneys who step up to help domestic violence victims transform into survivors. Click below to read what makes Liz tick and why she volunteers for Partners.

The ripple effects of domestic violence extend far beyond one incident. These can be felt for years or even the survivor’s entire life.

Every year, during October, the Partners community comes together to participate in the Break the Cycle Walk dedicated to supporting domestic violence victims and the work Partners does to transform their lives. This event shines a light on an issue that often hides in the shadows, bringing hope, awareness, and funds to those who need it most.

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.

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.

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.

Partners Trustee, Sheri Hecht Leonard, talks about Partners on the Advocates for Good podcast.

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.

Partners’ Policy Counsel, Trish Perlmutter, talks about domestic violence and the COVID-19 pandemic on the Help Me 2 Understand podcast.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.