New Searchable Statewide Domestic Violence Offender Database Proposed By NY Lawmakers

New York state lawmakers are considering a proposal for a new database of persistent domestic violence offenders.

The database, if approved, would be available to the public on the internet and searchable. It would include the offender’s name, date of birth, conviction date and location, and a current photograph.

Offenders with at least two convictions for domestic violence would have to register as a persistent domestic violence offender, according to the proposal.

If approved, it would go into effect in January 2027.

The legislation, sponsored by State Sen. Mario R. Mattera, is currently under review by the Codes Committee.

The purpose, according to the bill, is to “create a domestic violence offender registry similar to the sex offender registry. To give a tool to protect the public when dating, hiring or going about their daily lives.”

The legislation is being modeled after a similar registry in Tennessee. It was created with the enactment of “Savanna's Law,” named in honor of a Tennessee woman who was murdered by a man she had once dated.

“Domestic violence is not a private matter, it is a serious and repeatable crime,” Mattera said. “This legislation is about prevention, accountability, and giving people the information they need to protect themselves and their families.”

Assemblyman Anil Beephan Jr. said in a Facebook post that lawmakers welcome feedback from advocates, survivors, legal experts, and community organizations as the proposal is under consideration.

“What’s clear is this: our residents asked for this bill to be introduced in New York, and we believe it’s our responsibility to start that conversation,” Beephan said. “Protecting survivors and strengthening accountability remain at the center of this work.”

Cindy Kanusher, executive director of the Pace Women’s Justice Center in New York, a nonprofit legal services provider for domestic violence victims, said this type of registry is very new in the U.S.

Tennessee recently became the first state to launch a publicly searchable database focused specifically on people with multiple domestic violence convictions.

“In theory, it could reduce future domestic violence by allowing someone to look up a potential partner and make more informed decisions based on a history of criminal domestic violence convictions,” Kanusher said.

Kanusher stressed that there are limitations to a registry.

“Domestic violence is widely underreported, and many survivors never engage with the criminal legal system at all,” she said.

Some victims seek safety through the civil courts, such as through obtaining protection orders, and never file criminal charges, Kanusher noted.

“The reality is that the absence of a conviction does not mean abuse is not occurring at all,” Kanusher said. “For these reasons, a registry alone cannot capture the full scope of domestic violence or prevent all future harm.”

As currently written, the law would apply prospectively, meaning individuals with prior repeated offenses wouldn’t be included unless they get a new domestic violence conviction, according to Kanusher.

“This raises questions about how effectively it would address existing patterns of repeat harm,” she said.

While a registry may help prevent harm, it could also have unintended effects, according to Kanusher. Survivors may be discouraged from reporting due to fears of retaliation if an abuser blames them for public exposure. Victims may also be concerned about their privacy being adversely impacted, she said.

“Survivor safety must come first,” Kanusher said. “The impact on survivors depends heavily on how carefully a registry is designed and implemented.”