A bill introduced by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale) will increase the length of time a victim is protected by a final order of protection. The bill passed the Assembly on Wednesday.

Under current law, victims are issued temporary orders of protection that remain in effect until the criminal process is completed. Final orders of protection are issued at the time of conviction. In practice, this means that victims have two protection orders during the time between conviction and sentencing. Because the duration of final orders of protection is statutorily limited, this period of double protection reduces the overall length of time that a victim will be protected.

Paulin’s bill will solve this problem by allowing final orders of protection to be issued at the time of sentencing. As a result, victims will still be protected throughout the entire criminal proceeding and their final orders of protection will last longer.

“Orders of protection are intended to keep victims safe for as long as possible. The change in this bill is simple, but it could mean an extra month or more of protection for a victim of domestic violence” said Paulin.

Paulin is a long-time advocate for survivors of domestic violence. Before being elected to the Assembly she served as the Executive Director of My Sisters’ Place, a non-profit agency in Westchester County that assists victims of domestic violence. She has also been named a Leader in the Fight Against Domestic Violence by the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence for her work in the Assembly. She currently serves as the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Children and Families.