Sen. Singleton Joins DVRT Appreciation Event
State Senator Troy Singleton and members of local law enforcement joined staff from Burlington and Ocean counties on Wednesday, May 6th to recognize the vital service provided by members of Providence Houses’ Domestic Violence Response Teams (DVRT). Singleton also shared a little bit of the history behind Lisa’s Law.
Mary Pettrow, Service Area Director of Children and Family Services, introduced Senator Singleton and recalled the first time she met him when he invited her to take part in meeting at the State House regarding Lisa’s Law, a bill he sponsored following the death of Lisa Zindell at the hands of her former boyfriend in 2009.
“Senator Singleton’s invitation to be a part of that important conversation the first time we met told me so much about him. He had a willingness to listen to frontline perspectives, which sent a powerful message: effective policy must be informed by real experiences and the voices of those impacted,” she said. “We deeply appreciate the Senator’s leadership and commitment to addressing domestic violence with the seriousness and care it deserves.”
Singleton thanked the DVRTs for their commitment and acknowledged the emotional weight of the work of being a witness to violence. “Thank you for your commitment to turning victims into survivors.”
The DVRTs are comprised of volunteers who are dispatched to police stations or hospitals to sit with and advocate for survivors following a reported instance of domestic violence. These volunteers respond at all hours to ensure the survivors are not alone during a traumatic time.
He also spoke about Lisa’s Law, which was one of the last pieces of legislation signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy before he left office this January.
“This bill is special to me for several reasons,” said Singleton. “I signed on to the Lisa’s Law bill on my first day in office,” said Singleton. He noted it had been introduced by Assemblyman Ronald Dancer. A bipartisan effort, the bill was passed by the legislature in 2012 and again in 2016. The initial version was conditionally vetoed by Governor Chris Christie, who expressed concerns about the cost. Christie used a pocket veto in 2016, claiming the technology was not there, even though similar technology was being used to monitor Megan’s Law offenders.
“We didn’t stop fighting for this legislation,” said Singleton. “We listened to folks just like you and figured out how to do it. We knew we had to let survivors be a part of their own personal solution.” The bill provides $2.5 million for a four-year pilot program to be run in Ocean County. Under the bill, domestic violence offenders convicted of violating restraining orders could be electronically monitored. Victims would need to consent to the monitoring.
For more information on becoming a member of Providence House’s DVRT in Burlington County please call Burlington County 856-824-0599. In Ocean County call 732-350-2120.
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