2018socialhost

Parties are great opportunities for people of all ages to celebrate with friends and family, but it is important to remain responsible while hosting or attending a party. Drug and alcohol consumption can sometimes lead to serious consequences, especially when involving minors.

Parents and other adults have a special responsibility with respect to hosting house parties. Party hosts are required to ensure alcohol is not being served to underage guests. If you host a party and plan to serve alcohol, you should understand your responsibilities and take precautions ahead of time.

Under the Westchester County ‘Social Host Law,’ it is unlawful for any person over the age of 21 to “knowingly allow” or “to fail to take reasonable corrective action upon becoming aware of” the consumption of alcohol by minors in his or her residence. The social host law “[serves] to deter the consumption of alcoholic beverages by minors by holding those persons who are 21 years old or more responsible.” First and second offenses of this law result in fines, and a third offense is a misdemeanor, which could result in a criminal conviction and jail time.

Under the New York State Penal Law, any person who gives, sells or causes to be given or sold any alcoholic beverage to someone under the age of 21 faces potential prosecution for Unlawfully Dealing with a Child, a class “A” misdemeanor, which could result in up to one year in jail and/or a fine.

 In addition to understanding local laws about the use of alcohol and drugs, follow these tips for hosting a party for underage guests:

  • Set ground rules before the party with your guests.
  • Decide what part of the house will be used for the party. Choose an area where you can maintain supervision.
  • Limit party attendance and times.
  • Make it very clear that party crashing will not be permitted and that anyone who leaves will not be allowed back in the house.
  • Have plenty of food and nonalcoholic drinks available.
  • Be prepared to ask guests to leave if they refuse to cooperate with your rules.
  • Do not allow anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol to drive. If necessary, take away their car keys.

If you are a parent, take an active role in guaranteeing your teen’s safety at parties. Make sure the hosts are prepared to maintain a safe environment when your teen plans to attend a party at another residence.

Dangerous situations may develop in spite of your best efforts. Do not be afraid to contact emergency services when appropriate. New York’s ‘Good Samaritan’ law offers immunity from prosecution to people who seek emergency help for themselves or another. In most circumstances, don’t be concerned that you might be charged with possession of an unlawful drug or an alcoholic beverage. In the case of a  life-threatening medical emergency involving alcohol or a drug overdose, you should seek medical help immediately.

An alarming number of teenagers and young adults in this country have become victims of physical, emotional or sexual abuse at the hands of their dating partner. An estimated one in ten high school students have been hit, slapped, or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend. This violent behavior often begins between the ages of 12 and 18.

Warning signs of abuse can vary, but often include:

  • Hitting, slapping, grabbing, or shoving
  • Verbal insults, put downs, name calling, bullying, guilt trips, and the silent treatment
  • Jealousy, constantly accusations of wrongdoing, and possessive behavior
  • Monitoring your phone calls, texts and social media accounts
  • Controlling behavior such as telling you what to do, what to wear, who to talk to, how to spend your money, or who to associate with
  • Isolating you from friends and family
  • Making excuses for abusive behavior or making you feel that you deserve it
  • Showing up unexpectedly or uninvited
  • Pressuring you to engage in sexual activity, and threatening to spread rumors about you if you refuse
  • Physically forcing you to engage in sexual activity

If you feel you are in an abusive relationship, talk to someone you trust, such as a parent, friend, teacher, counselor or school officer.

If you think someone you know is in an abusive relationship, tell an adult.

If you suspect a friend or classmate is in danger, call 911

Destructive relationships during the teen years can lead to lifelong, unhealthy relationship practices and contribute to behaviors that may result in chronic mental and physical conditions in adulthood.

Furthermore, teens that are physically hurt by a dating partner are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior, binge drinking, and drug use.

If you or someone you know is the victim of teen dating violence, call our Domestic Violence Bureau at (914) 995-3000.

The word heroin has become commonplace in the last several years and unfortunately, its use continues to rise here in Westchester County, as well as around the country. 

Nearly a decade ago, the focus of law enforcement and substance abuse providers turned to prescription drugs like oxycodone and hydrocodone. The abuse of these types of drugs and the subsequent prosecution of those who used and sold them created a very different problem – heroin addiction. This resulted because abusers of prescription drugs quickly realized that heroin was easier to get and cheaper to buy on the street than prescription painkillers. 

What users did not realize was that the quality and purity of illegally produced and sold heroin could vary considerably, with one bag of powder containing 16 percent pure heroin while the next bag could contain 60 percent pure heroin. Additionally, heroin bought on the street may also be mixed with other dangerous drugs, such as fentanyl, a synthetic drug that can often be 30 to 50 times more potent than pure heroin.

This has led leading law enforcement agencies and health officials to label the recent rise in heroin use an “epidemic.”  Indeed, the numbers are staggering: 

  • A report released by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) shows heroin use has more than doubled since 2007.
  • More than 500,000 people have reported using heroin in the past 12 months, a 150% increase in just 6 years.
  • The CDC reports that heroin-related deaths nearly tripled between 2010 and 2013.
  • Felony prosecutions of offense involving heroin have increased 250% in Westchester County since 2011.

In an effort to combat this deadly drug and its devastating effect on our local communities, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office (WCDAO) has created the Overdose Response Initiative (ORI). In collaboration with local police departments, the United States Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Westchester Intelligence Center, and the Westchester County Medical Examiner, each overdose death is treated as a crime scene and certain data is immediately reported to an Assistant District Attorney in our Narcotics Bureau.

One of the most effective results of this new initiative is our ability to identify a potentially new, lethal “brand” of heroin and to distribute that information to all area law enforcement agencies, fire departments and EMS departments. This allows for better medical response to overdose victims, as well as aiding in identifying the source of these newly created “brands” and prosecuting these suppliers to the fullest extent of the law.

Finally, two recent developments in New York State have sought to address other issues surrounding the heroin epidemic.  The first was the passage of the “911 Good Samaritan” law (Penal Law §220.78). This law allows people to seek immediate health care for someone who is overdosing without the fear that they will be charged and prosecuted for drug and alcohol possessory crimes.

The other initiative is a recent focus on training law enforcement officers in the use of naloxone, commonly referred to as Narcan.  Narcan is a medicine that, when given to a heroin or other opioid overdose victim, reverses the effects of the lethal drug. Training and equipping police officers on the use of Narcan is a practical strategy that is helping to reduce heroin fatalities.

Heroin addiction has affected every segment of our population – it does not discriminate on the basis of age, economic status or race.  To that end, the WCDAO is committed to educating the public about the dangers of this now too-familiar drug and to continue to prosecute those who commit heroin-related offenses in our ongoing effort to keep our communities safe.

The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office defines elder abuse as any crime involving a victim who is 60 years of age or older. In the majority of these crimes, the victim is specifically targeted because of their age. Examples of typical crimes committed against elderly victims include:

  • Domestic violence or neglect at the hands of a family member or caregiver
  • Financial exploitation and thefts committed by a family member, caregiver, home health aide or a stranger engaged in a fraudulent scam
  • Abuse of a power of attorney by someone entrusted to act as a fiduciary

The Elder Abuse Unit of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office specializes in the investigation and prosecution of crimes against older victims in the county. An Assistant District Attorney with specialized training in the detection, investigation and prosecution of elder abuse handles all of these cases from the initial report of abuse until the completion of any prosecution of the matter. The ADA is assisted by a criminal investigator of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office to assist with the investigation, in order to determine whether a criminal investigation and prosecution is warranted. The Investigator assists the prosecutor to gather evidence with the goal of enhancing a prosecution of the offender. As it is often difficult for an elderly victim to obtain transportation or drive themselves to the office for a consultation, the ADA and Investigator are available to respond to the victim’s residence to make the process easier for these elderly and vulnerable victims. This office works in cooperation with local law enforcement and Adult Protective Services (APS) in the investigation and prosecution of elder abuse.

If a senior citizen has been physically abused or is in danger, call 911 immediately.

Other important telephone numbers:

  • Westchester County District Attorney’s Office Elder Abuse Unit: (914) 995-3000
  • Westchester County District Attorney’s Office 24-hour hotline: (914) 995-1940
  • Westchester County Adult Protective Services Intake Line:  (914) 995-2259 (Mon. - Fri;  9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)  Evenings, holidays, and weekends, call Emergency Services (914) 995-2099.

Westchester County District Attorney's office wants to let the public know about trends in crime and criminal behavior that can have an impact on the safety and well being of the citizens in the county. These Community Alerts will identify and explain those topics, giving the public information it needs to avoid being a victim of a crime or of inappropriate behavior.