New York's Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence needs to strengthen oversight of hotline response times, translation services, grant monitoring and prevention programs for older adults, according to a state comptroller audit released in June.
The audit reviewed the office's domestic violence awareness, prevention and assistance programs from January 2019 through June 2025 and found several areas where the state agency could improve its response to domestic violence and gender-based violence.
Auditors tested the New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline between December 2024 and June 2025 by making 25 phone calls and sending 20 text messages and 20 web-based chat messages. Five of the 25 test calls were never connected to a representative after the automated greeting, according to the report.
Auditors also reviewed 60 days of call logs from late 2024 through April 2025 and found that 170 of 2,814 calls, or 6%, were not connected. The report said three of 20 text messages and three of 20 web-based chats went unanswered, while several others exceeded the hotline contract's response-time requirements.
The audit also found translation problems in five of 20 non-English text or chat messages sent in Chinese, Croatian, Hindi, Marathi, Spanish and Urdu. The report said those problems could undermine the hotline's effectiveness and affect survivors' access to timely help.
The comptroller's office said OPDV had improved some monitoring procedures during the audit, but needed written follow-up steps to ensure contractors correct deficiencies in response times and language services.
The audit also found gaps in implementation of Executive Order 17, which required covered state entities to adopt gender-based violence workplace policies and designate trained domestic violence agency liaisons. As of May 2024, OPDV had approved policies for 72 state entities, but auditors identified more than 500 additional entities that may fall under the order and did not have OPDV-approved policies.
OPDV disputed that finding in its response, saying it relied on direction from the Executive Chamber and disagreed that the additional 500 entities fell under the order. The agency said it had proof of policies from 77 covered agencies and that, as of December 2025, all covered agencies had a trained liaison.
Auditors also reviewed oversight of Enough is Enough grants, which fund campus-based victim services and prevention programs related to sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking. From May 2022 through April 2025, OPDV funded 53 programs totaling about $13.5 million, according to the audit.
The report said quarterly reports reviewed for four grant recipients did not fully address all seven contract objectives, and OPDV's template did not allow recipients to report on two required objectives. OPDV said it had revised monitoring guides, was clarifying program guidance and was on track to complete site visits for all Enough is Enough grantees before the end of the current multiyear contract term.
The audit also said OPDV had not implemented a statutory mandate to develop senior center-based domestic violence prevention programs with defined goals or objectives as of June 2025. Auditors said the lack of such programs could limit access to resources for older adults, who may face added barriers to reporting abuse or seeking help.
OPDV agreed with the recommendation and said it had begun developing training materials, with senior-center domestic violence prevention programs expected to be developed and released by the end of 2026.
The comptroller's office also recommended strengthening the Domestic Violence Advisory Council's role and improving the timeliness and consistency of the state's Gender-Based Violence Dashboard. OPDV generally agreed with the recommendations, while disagreeing with some findings and saying it had already begun or implemented several corrective steps.
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