New York – Advocates for women prisoners in New York state are pushing legislation to cut sentences for domestic violence victims who strike back at abusers or get coerced into committing other crimes.
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Arguing that abuse victims pose little threat to others, sponsors acknowledge resentencing bills won’t pass this year, but the debate should start following a Cornell Law School study finding limited leniency for “survivor-defendants.”
The bills would give judges discretion to cut a sentence for first-degree manslaughter, for example, from five to 25 years to one to five years or probation.
Prosecutors say victims already get consideration with lowered charges, like manslaughter instead of murder, and lower sentences than others.
The Correctional Association of New York, the study’s co-author, says less than 175 women in state prison could be affected by passage of resentencing legislation.
Some women endure years of abuse. What happens if they snap?
I endured a marriage with a man who rolled his eyes and made offensive remarks every time I voiced an opinion. He never hit me, but abused me with words and language. He made me feel stupid and worthless. I kept trying to please him. One day I realized there would never be any pleasing him. I had to get out. My good friends, along with my rabbi and rebbitzen, helped me muster the courage to file for divorce. It was the best decision I ever made.
Once I was out of the marriage I finally understood how I had allowed this person to chip away, bit by bit, day by day, at my self-esteem. And I totally understand how a woman, or even a man who suffers with an abusive wife, can snap.
It’s easy to feel like a shmatte. It’s easy to stay and accept feeling depressed and awful. It’s easy to pretend to your family and friends that “all is OK.” It’s even easy, as well, to explode and do something you might pay for dearly. What’s hard is calmly standing up for yourself and making a move to protect yourself and your family. Calmly and deliberately. It’s hard, but definitely possible. I am proof.
I agree, any woman who suffers at the hand of an abusive husband and strikes back is a hero not a criminal