In June 2025, the office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul awarded $20.2 million in grants to support the state’s STRIVE initiative. The grants support 155 jobs in 87 law enforcement agencies and community organizations throughout New York. These agencies seek to address allegations of domestic violence and other stressful home and family situations.

What is the STRIVE Initiative?

STRIVE stands for Statewide Targeted Reductions in Intimate Partner Violence. Modeled on the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) Initiative, STRIVE focuses funding and resources on evidence-based, community-focused initiatives to defuse tense home and family situations and to address cases of alleged or actual domestic violence, according to a press release from the governor’s office.

The recently-awarded $20.2 million in grants is the single largest state investment in the STRIVE Initiative since the program began. Funds are directed toward 17 counties outside New York City. The State Division of Criminal Justice Services will use the funds to cover various positions within the criminal justice system. 

The STRIVE Initiative seeks to use a “data-driven framework” to address alleged domestic violence situations, says New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado. The funding helps community law enforcement and social services offices align their services with local, state, and federal resources. It also funds data-tracking tools that can be used to inform decision-making. 

Law Enforcement Efforts and Domestic Violence

STRIVE Initiative funding seeks to support several professionals and efforts within the domestic violence investigation process. Positions funded by the $20.2 million in grants include police investigators, detectives, and crime analysts. Coordinators and advocates whose role is to keep everyone safe and defuse tense situations are also included in the grant’s funding. 

At first glance, better investigation services seem like a win-win for both parties in a domestic violence dispute. More thorough investigation and better analysis of evidence would seem to indicate that a case will more easily reach the truth of what happened – ensuring those who are wrongly accused of domestic violence will not face conviction and the serious penalties that attend it. 

Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In many domestic violence cases, the best available evidence and analysis remains ambiguous. The results could support either party’s accusations or claims, depending on how they are interpreted. 

In these situations, you need more than just well-funded, thoughtful police work. You need someone who can protect your legal rights while also identifying important information that police may have overlooked. You need an experienced attorney who can contextualize all this information, making sense of it for a judge or jury.

New York Senate Efforts to Further Address Domestic Violence

The STRIVE grants aren’t the only statewide efforts to address domestic violence in New York. In May 2025, the state Senate passed a package of bills aimed at supporting domestic violence survivors. These bills changed compensation rules, created priority lists for public housing, freed survivors from shared contracts, and required police officers to change how they assess the situation when responding to a domestic violence call.

These efforts come from a desire to protect those who genuinely face risk at home. Yet they will likely have spill-over effects into all allegations of domestic violence – justified and otherwise. They may also have negative effects on couples who wish to repair their relationship or those who want to live amicably apart while continuing to co-parent, run a business together, or otherwise collaborate. 

The effects of these and other laws can impact those who face domestic violence charges in New York. An experienced lawyer can help you understand what to expect and how to protect your legal rights throughout the process. 

Speak to an Experienced Domestic Violence Defense Lawyer Today

Domestic violence is a tense and difficult situation. In the moment, it may be just you and your household – meaning that descriptions of what happened become your word against theirs. Investigations may turn up conflicting or ambiguous evidence that can be interpreted either way. Yet you find yourself taking the blame – and facing the charges.

If you’re facing this situation, don’t fight alone. Speak to an experienced domestic violence defense attorney today. The team at the Brill Legal Group will defend your legal rights at every step, thoroughly investigate your claim, and fight to protect you throughout the process. We understand how personally challenging domestic violence charges can be, and we’re dedicated to defending each client we serve. Contact us today to learn more.