Schenectady County's District Attorney and Sheriff, Albany's Chief of Police, and Rensselaer County's District Attorney join other area law enforcement to unveil a new report on the child abuse-crime link, costs of abuse. Leaders support efforts to break cycle of abuse through voluntary home visiting. Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Parsons Family Resource Center, 125 Bigelow Avenue, Schenectady NY 12304.
Schenectady, N.Y. -- Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney, Schenectady County Sheriff Dominic Dagostino, Albany City Police Chief Steven Krokoff and Rensselaer County District Attorney Richard McNally will headline the release of a new report being issued by law enforcement leaders and crime survivors on the extent of child abuse and neglect in New York. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids New York members are issuing the report showing that over 77,000 New York children suffered abuse or neglect in 2010—more than 200 every day. Among New York children who suffered abuse and neglect in 2010, the report says at least 114 children died. In the Capital District alone, there were 3,986 (Albany: 1,218; Rensselaer: 823; Saratoga: 802 Schenectady: 1,143) children abused or neglected.
Carney, Dagostino, Krokoff and McNally will emphasize the benefits of voluntary home visiting services, which help new parents cope with the stresses of raising a young child. Research shows that quality home visiting programs can cut child abuse and neglect by as much as 50 percent, significantly reduce later crime and save taxpayer dollars. Carney, Dagostino, Krokoff and McNally will also voice strong support for services proven to prevent child abuse by releasing an open letter to policy makers, signed by more than 1,560 law enforcement leaders nationwide (more than 200 from New York): one for every confirmed child who died from abuse or neglect in 2010.

