POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Legislators were briefed on a program that helps victims of domestic violence navigate the court system and provides them with immediate access to programs designed to protect victims.  New York launched the Statewide Targeted Reductions In Violence (STRIVE) initiative in 2025 to support survivors and ensure better resources for both law enforcement and victim services.

One year into the STRIVE program, lawmakers learned that STRIVE brings together systems and agencies that typically operate independently of each other, creating a coordinated strategy that prevents victims from “falling through the cracks and provides consistent and informed responses.

The program is funded by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), which provided $820,000 to Dutchess County this year.  The funding pays for the local STRIVE Coordinator, Kaitlin Rodrigues, and a Victim Advocate.  The coordinated community response is survivor-centered, using trauma-informed practices, and works to hold offenders accountable.

Six agencies in Dutchess County are represented on the STRIVE committee: the District Attorney’s Office, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, City of Poughkeepsie PD, Town of Poughkeepsie PD, Probation, and .   Assistant District Attorney Nick LaStella is part of the STRIVE team and told lawmakers that “Dutchess County is way ahead of other counties in its efforts to battle domestic violence and we’re getting violent offenders off the streets.”

Dutchess County DA Anthony Parisi spoke with about the program, saying, “The STRIVE Initiative reflects Dutchess County’s commitment to a coordinated, victim-centered, and data-informed approach to combating domestic violence and protecting vulnerable members of our community. Through strong partnerships between law enforcement, prosecutors, advocacy organizations, healthcare providers, and community stakeholders, we are working to identify high-risk offenders earlier, improve intervention strategies, and ensure victims receive the support and protection they deserve.”  DA Parisi continued, adding “This initiative strengthens our ability to collaborate, use evidence-based risk assessments, and build a system that prioritizes accountability and victim safety. Domestic violence thrives in silence and isolation; the STRIVE Initiative is about breaking that cycle through partnership, prevention, and decisive action.”