The New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute, Inc. hosted the third annual New York Statewide Conference on VINE on May 1, 2009 at the Holiday Inn Wolf Road, Albany, NY.  One hundred and ten registrants from not-for-profit and governmental agencies representing Law Enforcement, Corrections, Probation, Justice, District Attorney Offices, Victim Advocacy and Domestic Violence Services were in attendance.  Consistent with this year’s National Crime Victims Rights’ Week theme, “25 Years of Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act” an array of speakers reflected on the progress that has been made to assist Victims of Crime and what still needs to be done.

The opening session was a riveting presentation on the ravages of domestic violence and a heroic response to a 911 call.  Raymond Dell, the Steuben County Undersheriff described a day when Steven Vanzile pressed a loaded shotgun to his wife’s head and threatened to kill her.  Courageously, Faylyn Vanzile recounted the horror of these death threats, how she eluded her husband and still made a 911 call.  As Steuben County Deputy Sheriff Donald Lewis approached the house with his fellow law enforcement officers, Faylyn was running to them for safety, only to be shot in the back by her husband with a 10 gauge shotgun.  As she lay helplessly injured, Deputy Lewis, under a hail of gunfire and without cover, managed to get her to an ambulance 100 yards away.  He returned to the scene. Steven Vanzile was taken into custody two hours later without further incident.

The described abuse, death treats and physical injury are a stark reminder of the plight of too many domestic violence victims.  Deputy Lewis’ actions in response  to a 911 call only serves to highlight the unforeseen dangers that law enforcement may encounter when they respond to a domestic violence call for help.

Sean Byrne, Executive Deputy Director, New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, delivered the keynote address.  He described an explosion in the spread of juvenile crime and what needs to be done to stop the unprecedented rise in this group of offenders.   His remarks were supported by staggering statistics and served as an urgent reminder of the need for more community focus and collaboration to reverse this trend.

Tom Rhoton of APPRISS, Inc. provided an update on the VINE Program.   Chuck Gallo reviewed the status  of the New York Sheriffs’ Association Institute, Inc. Inmate Photo Enhancement project.  Jeni Gamble outlined the details of a Protective Order Proposal.  Three workshops focused on how best to use VINE by law enforcement, victim advocates, and probation.

Dr. Chame Blackburn, an Emergency Room physician from Albany Medical Center Hospital enumerated the needs crime victims have, when brought to the hospital.  She described how more training and collaboration with the law enforcement and victim service agencies will improve the delivery of services to crime victims.  Bob Passano, Office of the Prevention of Domestic Violence, provided an energetic review of protection order issues and the need for continued education.

Closing remarks by Janet Koupash and Bill Scheafer highlighted the need for continued collaboration between all agencies and a planned array of initiatives undertaken by Probation throughout the State to assist crime victims..

At day’s end, Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike and Board Chairman of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute, Inc. noted that the conference once again brought participants from around the State of New York to network together and revitalize themselves for the ongoing responsibility of assisting victims of crime.