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Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I believe an elderly person is being abused?

     In addition to our Sex Crime/Special Victims Bureau which handles elder abuse cases, the New York City Department of Aging has a unit that addresses crimes against the elderly. The number for their Elder Abuse Crime Victims Unit is (212) 442-3103.

     Community Agency for senior Citizens, (CASC), is also a local resource to contact regarding crimes against the elderly. CASC can be reached by calling (718) 981-6226. CASC has staff members who assist Senior victims with a variety of issues and problems.

     If, however, you witness a serious life threatening situation, immediately call 911 for assistance.

I know of a child who may be abused. To whom do I report this?

     This State of New York has a 24-hour child abuse hotline to accept reports of child abuse from the public. The phone number for this hotline is 1-800-342-3720. Once again, however, if you witness a serious life-threatening situation, immediately call 911 for assistance.

I am a victim of domestic violence and I want to take my offender to court.
Where do I go?

     In New York City, some domestic violence cases can go to both Criminal Court and Family Court, while others can go only to Criminal Court. The following people can take their cases to either or both courts:

          People who are legally married or used to be married to each other.
          People who have a child in common.
          People who are related by blood or adoption.

     If you do not fit into one of these categories, and you want to file a domestic violence complaint for action in Criminal Court, you must first file an report with your local police precinct.

What is the difference between criminal court and family court?

     The purpose of Criminal Court is to determine whether a person has committed a crime. If found guilty, an abuser can be punished and may have a criminal record. Cases in Criminal court are prosecuted by our office, the Office of the Richmond County District Attorney. The District Attorney, not the victim, decides if there is enough evidence for the case to proceed. The victim is not a party to the action. Rather, the victim is a witness for the prosecution.

     In Family Court, it is the victim(call petitioner) who begins the case by filing a petition with the clerk. The abuser (called the respondent) will not receive a criminal record from a Family Court proceeding. The Family Court may issue an order of protection while the case proceeds and as a part of the final resolution of the case. The Family Court can also resolve living arrangement issues such as custody and child support. The telephone number for Family Court on Staten Island is (718) 390-5460 and it is located at 100 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301.

What is an order of protection?

     An order of protection is issued by a judge as part of a court case. It requires an abuser to do or not do certain things, such as stay away from your home, school and job. It can also require an abuser not to assault, threaten or harass you. The order may extend to other members of your family, including your children. Both Criminal Court and Family Court can issue orders of protection.

     A Criminal Court Order of Protection can only be issued after an arrest is made. It is a crime to violate an order of protection no matter which court issues it. The police will arrest a person who violates either a Family Court of Criminal Court order of protection.

Are victims of crime entitled to compensation from the crime committed against them?

     The New State Crime Victims Board may be able to reimburse you for your direct out-of-pocket expenses caused by a crime. These expenses may include the value of damaged property, lost income or support, medical bills, or funeral bills. A claim form can be obtained from a Police station, a district attorney’s office, a hospital emergency room, or by requesting one from the Crime Victims Board. The Crime Victims Board can be reached at (718) 923-4323, 55 Hansen Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217.

I believe that I was victim of fraud regarding a company I hired. Can the district Attorney’s Office begin an investigation into a company that “ripped” me off?

     The most appropriate place to lodge an official complaint against a company is the New York City department of Consume Affairs. Consumer Affairs licenses a variety of business and services in New York City, including catering establishments, amusement arcades, debt collection agencies, electronics stores, garages and parking lots, home improvement contractors, laundromats, and ticket brokers. These are just a sample of the types of businesses regulated by Consumer Affairs. The agency licenses 44,000 businesses in 65 categories and regularly mediates problems and disputes between consumers and merchants. For further information, the New York City Dept. of Consumer Affairs can be reached at 42 Broadway, New York, NY 10004, (212) 487-4444. The agency also has a Staten Island Office located at Staten Island Borough Hall, room 422, Staten Island, NY 10301,. (718) 816-2280/81.

     If Consumer Affairs is not the appropriate agency to address your complaint, please don’t hesitate to contact our office and ask to speak to someone in the Investigations Bureau.

What court can I go to if I want to sue someone, either a person or a business, for money?

     Civil Court is primarily designed for the settlement of disputes between parties. Depending on the amount, you can go to Small Claims Court which is an informal court where individuals can sue for money only, up to $3,000 without a lawyer. For example, if you feel a person or business damaged something you own, you may sue that person or business for the monetary amount of your damages. To begin a case in Small claims court, you must go to Small Claims court to file a statement of you claim. The Small Claims Court on Staten Island is located 927 Castleton Ave. For further information on how to file a claim, you should contact Small Claims court at (718) 390-5421.

     In addition to Small Claims Court, Civil court is also the place where private civil claims against a person or an organization are adjudicated. Civil Court is also located at 927 Castleton Ave. and for further information contact (718) 390.5421.