Includes consideration of evidence of recent acts of aggravated cruelty to animals as a factor to be considered when determining whether grounds for a…

• Democratic1

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Michelle Hinchey says this is needed

Currently, Civil Practice Law lists criteria for courts to consider when determining whether to issue a temporary extreme risk protection order (TERPO.) These include but are not limited to threats of physical force, reckless use or brandishing of firearms, recent or ongoing substance or alcohol abuse, or other considerations. While the court may consider other unlisted factors at its discretion, four states have explicitly added animal cruelty to their statutes as this bill would do. Both academic and law enforcement sources recognize a link between cruelty to animals and violence against people. A 2021 article in the FBI's Law Enforcement Bulletin characterizes recent research Into animal abuse as showing "a well-documented link that it is a predictive or co-occurring crime with violence against humans...and is associated with other types of violent offenses," noting that increased awareness of this connection "strengthens the identification and reduction of such crimes." The National Sheriffs' Association similarly notes the connection between animal and human violence, including that 60% of families under investigation for child abuse and 88% of those specifically investigated for physical child abuse also reported instances of animal cruelty. New York law recognizes this link in Family Court Act section 842, allowing companion animals to be included in orders of protection. Expanding the TERPO criteria to explicitly include cruelty to animals is an important step in protecting New Yorkers by recognizing the strong connection to violence against people.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.