Westchester provides phones to high-risk domestic violence victims
Westchester County launched a new initiative to help its most high-risk domestic violence clients to stay protected.
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Westchester County launched a new initiative to help its most high-risk domestic violence clients to stay protected.
Westchester's Office for Women director Robi Schlaff believes having a tracked phone can create serious risks for victims of domestic violence.
"They really are kind of lost without that lifeline of having a safe cellphone," Schlaff said.
That's why the county's Office for Women is giving out cellphones to some of its highest-risk clients.
"Especially, those who have experienced violence and stalking, it seems that having a phone that can't be tracked and that is reliable and available is one of their top priorities," Schlaff said.
Officials said the 100 phones were donated by T-Mobile.
Office administrative assistant DQ Boyer said the phones are not activated until a caseworker meets with a client in a safe space.
"With this phone, we have a one-year contract. So, from the day that the phone is activated until the following year, the client doesn't have to worry about any monthly payment," Boyer said.
The Yonkers Police Department has a domestic violence unit and Lt. Robert Spink said this kind of lifeline can make all the difference.
"The cellphones know where we go, they know who we talk to. So, offenders often times use the data from those devices to kind of continue the cycle of violence," Spink said.
Spink said his officers have already had to deal with over 600 domestic violence cases since their unit reopened back in April.
"Our unit just came back from a training block up in Albany. One of the big topics at the training this year was cyberstalking and talking about ways to mitigate that," Spink said.
It's not just cellphones that are the problem, Spink said offenders are using all kinds of smart devices to stalk victims.
"Home door locks, security cameras outside their residence. They've been using that to kind of aid their pattern of abuse," Spink said.
That's why Spink encourages victims seeking help to leave smart devices at home to avoid tracking.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
