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If I’ve been raped or engaged in sex without consenting what can I do? Do I have to press charges? Do my parents need to know about it if I am under age 18?
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If you are raped or engaged in sex without consenting, help is to be found by calling the police or Crime Victims Assistance Program. Dutchess County also has a Rape Crisis Hotline, which is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and can be reached by calling (845) 452-7272. Services available include crisis intervention, advocacy, referral information, counseling and accompaniment to the hospital, police and / or court.
No, it is your choice about whether to press charges.
Generally for a young adult to receive services from the Crime Victims Assistance Program or the Rape Crisis Hotline a parent does not need to be notified. However, there are some circumstances, about which your parent may need to know. Talk to the person who is assisting you to see whether your parent needs to know and how this can be handled.
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If I am being abused or neglected by my parent, guardian, or another family member (or want to call to report suspected child abuse) can I make a Child Abuse Report? Where can I get help?
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Yes, you can. The toll free hotline telephone number to make a report is 1-800-342-3720. Anyone (including the victim) can make a report and the Hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. When you call the Hotline you will be asked some questions about the abuse or neglect which has occurred. You do not have to reveal your name. A report can be made on behalf of any youth under the age of 18 years. Once a report is made, it is transmitted to the county (ies) in which the youth and family reside. An investigation into the allegations on the report commences within 24 hours. If you are not sure that what has happened is considered abuse or neglect, make the call anyway. The staff at the Hotline are trained to take the information and make this determination.
There is help available for youth who are being abused or neglected. In addition to making a hotline report, other options include going to the police or going to a trusted adult such as a family member, teacher, counselor or therapist, doctor, foster parent, friend or case manager for help. If you are in imminent danger call 911 or call your local police department for help.
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My neighbor's yard is full of junk and trash. What can be done?
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You should register this type of complaint with two agencies:
- First, call the Environmental Health Services Division of the Dutchess County Department of Health at (845) 486-3404 and ask to speak to the public health sanitarian who handles the municipality where your rental residence is located.
- Second, call the building and zoning department for the municipality where your rental residence is located and notify them of the problem. Click Here for municipal contact information.
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What should I do if my Pistol License is lost or destroyed?
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If you lose your Pistol License or it is destroyed, you need to go to the Dutchess County Clerk's Office (Records Room) and obtain a copy of your original pistol license application. Bring your application copy to the Pistol Bureau and we will print a new card. There is a $5.00 fee. We accept cash, check or money order.
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How can I check on the status of my Pistol License application after I submit it?
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The processing time for applications is 3-6 months. If after 6 months you have not recieved an answer via mail, you can call the office at 845-486-3883. Leave a message with your name, phone number and the date you submitted your application. A clerk will call you back to discuss your application with you. You may also stop in during business hours to inquire. This information cannot be given out via e-mail.
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Aren’t most sex offenders locked up?
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Some sex offenders receive community sentences, such as probation supervision, and so remain in the community while serving their sentence. Sex offenders who are given jail or prison time are eventually released back into the community. Offenders released from prison may be supervised by parole. Short of incarceration, community supervision allows the criminal justice system one way to help control the offender. There is a growing interest in providing effective community supervision for this population to reduce the threat of future victimization. The supervising agency can monitor the offender’s residence, require that the offender work and in some cases require that he or she participate in treatment. Certain sex offenders who find appropriate work and are in treatment while under community supervision present a reduced threat to the community.
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Who should I contact if I am concerned about the sex offender’s behavior?
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If it appears to you that the offender has committed a crime or is acting suspiciously, call the county sheriff or the police department in your jurisdiction and report it as you would any other suspicious or criminal activity. Most areas have a 911 emergency service, but check with law enforcement to find out how to report a crime that you witness or suspect. It is important that you leave it to law enforcement and do not take matters into your own hands.
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What is sex offender registration?
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In 1994 the federal Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act was passed. This law mandated states to set up sex offender registries to assist police in keeping track of sex offenders in their jurisdictions. Each state may choose how to operate their registry.
In New York State, a person must register as a sex offender if they have been convicted of certain offenses. They have to tell local law enforcement where they will be living and, in some cases, where they will be working. For more information about sex offender registration in New York State you can visit the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services’ website: www.criminaljustice.state.ny.us.
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How do I find out if someone has a criminal record?
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There are certain circumstances under which you can find out if someone has a criminal record in New York State, and there are several ways to go about the process.
For example, if the individual you are seeking information on has been an inmate in a New York State correctional facility, then information on the crime, sentence and release date is public record in most cases (exceptions include youthful offenders). The New York State Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) will provide this information. Click Here to access the DOCS website, where there is a form for requesting this information.
Crime victims and all other New Yorkers can also make toll-free calls to get information about convicted felony offenders in the custody of the DOCS through Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE), which is available around the clock. The VINE phone number is 1-888-846-3469. Click Here to view specific instructions on using VINE.
Furthermore, there a certain instances where employers are required by law to perform a background check on potential employees, and there are also instances where an employer may perform a background check with the consent of the individual in question. For example, under “Kieran’s Law,” parents can forward the fingerprints of a prospective childcare provider to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services for a criminal background search.
For additional information about criminal background checks, click on the following link to access the website of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
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What do I tell my children about this offender?
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Good communication between parents and children is an important part of family safety. In general terms tell your children that this person has hurt someone before. Explain to them that they should stay away from this person. Review safety tips and be aware of common lures used by sex offenders. View the following webpage for suggestions:
http://www.childluresprevention.com/parents/tips.asp.
Even though we mean well when we say to our kids, “don’t talk to strangers,” the fact is that most children are sexually abused by someone they already know, be it a family friend, a neighbor, a babysitter, a coach – even a family member.
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Now that I know about a particular sex offender who lives in my community, are my family & I safe?
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Sex offending happens in secrecy. Community notification removes the veil of secrecy. The purpose of community notification is to reduce the chances of the offender victimizing someone else by increasing neighborhood residents’ awareness of known sex offenders living in their area. It is also very important to remember that registered sex offenders are only a portion of people who have committed sex offenses who live in our communities. There are many offenders who have not yet been caught, who are not required to register, or who have completed their registry obligations.
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Are there any differences in how sex offenders are classified on the Registry?
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Some states use a tiered system of classifying registered sex offenders according to their risk of re-offense, while other states don’t differentiate between different risk levels.
New York State uses a tiered system, which puts sex offenders into one of three tiers or levels. A court determines whether an offender is a Level 1, 2, or 3. Level 1 offenders are considered to be low risk to re-offend. Level 2 offenders are considered to a moderate risk to commit a new sex offense. Level 3 offenders are considered to a high risk to re-offend. Courts in New York also decide if an offender should be designated a sexual predator, sexually violent offender or predicate sex offender.
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What do I do if a stray (or neighborhood) dog or cat bites me?
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There are both health issues and legal issues involved when an animal bite occurs.
First handle the health issues: Try to determine who the owner of the animal is so that the animal can be screened for rabies. Call the Dutchess County Department of Health at (845) 486-3404 -or- (845) 431-6465 after hours to advise them of the bite. Department of Health personnel are experienced in handling animal bite issues and they will determine what further steps need to be taken to ensure that you will not be at risk from rabies exposure.
For legal issues involving an animal bite, click Here.
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Do I need to register my boat?
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According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, you are required "...to register any boat that is motor-driven and is operated on public waterways in NYS. The boat requires a registration even if the motor is not the primary source of propulsion. If you operate the boat in NYS, you must register the boat with the DMV."
Click Here to access the NYS DMV webpage for frequently asked questions regarding boat registration that includes links to the forms required for registration, cost, and other information.
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What are the regulations regarding the wearing of gloves and hats/hairnets in food service facilities?
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Per Section 14-4.90 of the New York State Sanitary Code:
“Food is to be prepared and served with no bare hand contact unless the food will be subsequently heated to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) or greater for foods that were not previously heated or to 165 degrees Fahrenheit (73.9 degrees Celsius) or greater for foods that are being heated for a second or subsequent time. Convenient and suitable utensils and/or sanitary gloves are to be provided and used to prepare or serve food to eliminate bare hand contact and prevent contamination. Waxed paper, napkins or equivalent barrier to prevent hand contact may be used to serve food.”
Per Section 14-1.72 of the New York State Sanitary Code:
“All persons within a food service establishment who work in areas where food is prepared are to use hats, caps or hair nets as restraints which minimize hair contact with hands, food and food-contact surfaces.”
Click Here to access more of the New York State Sanitary Code.
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What is community notification all about?
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In 1996, Congress passed Megan’s Law. Megan’s Law is an amendment to the sex offender registration act and requires states to develop community notification programs to make information about registered sex offenders available to the community. This information can help community members make planning decisions about the safety of themselves and their family.
New York State Law allows local police to give out certain information about some registered sex offenders. The amount of information depends on the offender’s designated risk level. Little information can be released about low risk offenders. Much more information can be released about moderate to high risk offenders, including the offender’s picture and description of their offense. Specific information on high risk offenders’ addresses is available. Information on where moderate risk offenders reside is given in general terms, such as by zip code
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If I’m being physically or sexually abused or threatened by someone outside of my household where can I go for help? How old do I need to be to press charges against someone?
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The police are the first and foremost resource for anyone being abused or threatened by someone outside of the victim’s household. Some of the police contacts in Dutchess County include the following:
NYS Police Troop K Barracks 677-7300
Dutchess County Sheriff’s Dept. 486-3800
City of Poughkeepsie Police Dept. 451-4000
Town of Poughkeepsie Police Dept. 485-3660
City of Beacon Police Dept. 831-4111
Town of Hyde Park Police Dept. 229-2931
If you have an emergency situation or are in danger of being harmed by someone else, you should dial “911” on the telephone to reach an emergency response dispatcher.
Anyone can make a police report. However, to sign a complaint so the police can take action, you need to be eighteen years old. If you are under age eighteen, your parent must sign for you.
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How old do you have to be to get help from Adult Protective Services? What kind of help do they provide? How does one apply for such help?
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Adult Protective Services offers assistance to people 18 years of age and older. There are three criteria for getting assistance; the adult must have a physical or mental impairment, must have at least one or more un-met need and have no one else available to responsibly assist them in meeting the need.
Adult Protective Services offers many types of assistance including case management and advocacy services, financial management and help with housing issues.
To make a referral for Adult Protective Services, a call should be made to the Department of Social Services in the county in which the client resides. In Dutchess County the number to call is (845) 486-3300. After a referral is accepted, an assessment is completed to determine whether the client meets the eligibility criteria and requires on going assistance. Assistance may be given during the assessment period to resolve the presenting problem(s) or to connect the client to other appropriate services in the community. At the conclusion of the assessment period, which can take up to 60 days, the case will either be closed or opened for on going case management and advocacy services.
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What if I’m being physically or verbally abused or feel threatened by a boy friend/girl friend?
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If you are being abused or feel threatened by a boyfriend or girlfriend, there are several places to go for help, including the police. Other agencies in the Dutchess County area where help can be found include:
Crime Victims Assistance Program of Family Services - 452-1110
Battered Women's Services of Family Services - 24-hour hotline 485-5550
Grace Smith House - 471-3033
If you have a Department of Social Services case manager, he or she can help you get the assistance you need. Remember, the first step to getting help is to tell someone about the abusive or threatening situation. If you stay quiet hoping these things will change, the situation is likely to just continue or get worse.
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