Introduction

The New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence welcomes your questions, comments, suggestions and concerns. All mail sent to OPDV will be read. However, due to the volume of e-mail received, we may not be able to respond to all messages. As a general security precaution, OPDV does not open or forward e-mail attachments. We can assist you best by ensuring that your questions and comments are directed to those who can provide you with the information you are seeking. For that reason, we have developed this Contact Information page.

If you are concerned about someone knowing that you have visited this Web site, please use a safer computer, call 911, your local hotline or the NYS Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-942-6906 (in Spanish 1-800-942-6908). For more information, please visit our Computer Safety page.

Contact Us

For more information about OPDV, to request training or technical assistance, or to obtain copies of brochures, posters, or other publications, contact us using the general information or subject-specific e-mail addresses and phone numbers:

Subject-specific contact information:

• Public Information: opdvpublicinfo@opdv.ny.gov
• OPDV Bulletin: opdvBulletin@opdv.ny.gov
  
• CPS/Child Welfare: opdvcps-cw@opdv.ny.gov
• Community Corrections: opdvcriminaljustice@opdv.ny.gov
• Criminal Justice: opdvcriminaljustice@opdv.ny.gov
• Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Traumatic Brain Injury and
  Domestic Violence: specialprojects@opdv.ny.gov
• Social Services: opdvopdvldss@opdv.ny.gov
• Workplace: opdvdvworkplace@opdv.ny.gov

Web site:

• To report technical difficulties or accessibility issues: opdvwebinfo@opdv.ny.gov
  
• Internet Privacy Policy: PrivacyComp@opdv.ny.gov

Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Requests

To request access, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), to a record maintained by the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, you must make your request in writing.

Please be as specific as possible in describing the record(s) in which you are interested. Within five business days of the receipt of a written request, we will send a written acknowledgement that we have received the request. Please send your inquiry via landmail, FAX or e-mail to:

This mailbox is checked during regular business hours, which are Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm excluding State Holidays, and should not be used to send urgent messages. If you are a victim of domestic violence seeking information or assistance, please refer to the Hotline information listed on this website.

If You or Someone You Know is a Victim of Domestic Violence...

OPDV does not provide direct victim services. However, if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence and you want help, emergency shelter or information, your best option is to call the domestic violence program in your community. If you don't know their number, you can obtain the information from the following sources:

Telephone Numbers in New York State

• In English, the New York State Domestic & Sexual Violence Hotline
  • Voice telephone number: 1-800-942-6906

Números de Teléfono en el Estado de Nueva York:

• En español: Línea contra la Violencia Doméstica y Agresión Sexual del Estado de Nueva York:
  • 1-800-942-6908

The names and contact information of local domestic violence programs are listed in the New York State Resources page located on the OPDV Web site. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TDD for the hearing impaired) to find the program nearest you. This organization also has a list of state coalitions and hotlines posted on their Web site.

Information and Assistance Directly Available from OPDV

• Training
• Presentations
• Technical assistance
• Policy development and implementation
• Assistance to a wide variety of professionals to help improve responses to both victims of domestic violence and abusers.

We have developed some Training Needs Assessment Questions to help you decide if training will address your needs or if here is some other kind of assistance we can offer. We recommend that all individuals read through these questions prior to calling to schedule a training.

• OPDV publications available for ordering are listed in our Publications page
  
  
• To report technical problems on this site, e-mail the Web site Manager and please write "Technical problem" in the subject line. This mailbox is checked during regular business hours, which are Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm excluding State Holidays, and should not be used to send urgent messages. If you are a victim of domestic violence seeking information or assistance, please refer to the Hotline information listed above.
  
  
• For further assistance, we can direct you to the agency and/or organization that may be able to answer your questions.

For other domestic violence-related information beyond that available through OPDV, see our list of Selected Domestic Violence Links and New York State Resources page.

Information and assistance available from other agencies and organizations

• Crime victim's compensation For information on eligibility for crime victim's compensation, a description of available compensation benefits, and how to receive a claim application, go to the NYS Office of Victim Services (OVS) Web site or call OVS at 1-800-247-8035.
  
  
• Information regarding persons in the custody of the New York State Department of Corrections Crime victims and other citizens seeking information about convicted felony offenders in custody of the Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) may contact that agency's Victim Information and Notification Services by calling 1-888-VINE-4NY (1-888-846-3469) or obtain more information about this service by visiting the DOCS Web site. For information on the location of an inmate in the Department's custody, check the Inmate Lookup Service.
  
  
• For information about direct legal services or advice, you may contact:
  
  
  • Your local Bar Association - check the list available at the American Bar Association's Web site.
  • The New York State Bar Association. You may also want to check their Web site's Public Resources section.
    
  • Your local chapter of the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York
  • New York State Attorney General's Office
    
  • American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence
    
    
• For complaints concerning judges, you may wish to contact the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. The mailing address is:
  New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct
  38-40 State Street
  Albany, New York 12207.
  
  
• For information about domestic violence funding, you may wish to contact the following government agencies (this list is not exhaustive but it is a good start):
  

New York State Agencies

• Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services
• Office of Children and Family Services
• NYS Office of Victim Services (OVS)
• Division of Criminal Justice Services - Office of Funding and Program Assistance
• Department of Health
• Office of Mental Health
• Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

Federal Agencies

• Department of Justice - Office of Justice Programs, including but not limited to:
  • National Institute of Justice
  • Office for Victims of Crime
  • Violence Against Women Grants Office
• Health and Human Services - Grants Net including but not limited to:
  • Administration for Children and Families
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Health Resources and Services Administration
  • National Institutes of Health
    

Please note: ODPV cannot guarantee the availability of other agency/organization links and/or Web sites or the accuracy or usefulness of the information on those sites (please refer to our Disclaimer.)

A Note About E-mail Safety and Phone Privacy

Please be advised that e-mail is not a secure or confidential way to discuss the violence in your life or in anyone else's life. For increased safety, please contact the New York State Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-942-6906. Traditional "corded" phones are more private than cell phones or cordless phones.