POUGHKEEPSIE – Family Services Inc. honored three individuals for their work in supporting victims of domestic violence on Friday at the Family Partnership Center in Poughkeepsie. The honorees are associated with the Center for Victim Safety and Support (CVSS), administered through Family Services.
The CVSS provides 24-hour non-residential, comprehensive services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes. They also specialize in enhancing the system’s response to victims of crime as well as the prevention of crimes.
Leah Feldman, CEO of Family Services told Mid Hudson News that all three professionals were honored because “they have made exemplary contributions toward our goal of making sure each victim is treated with dignity and respect.”
Town of Poughkeepsie Police Officer Sarah Raco, a five-year veteran of law enforcement was honored by Family Services for “her compassionate work with domestic violence and sexual assault victims.” Raco has developed the ability to build rapport with survivors which helps them trust the criminal justice system. The trust increases their engagement throughout the investigation and prosecution processes, ultimately enhancing victim safety and offender accountability, according to Family Services.
Dutchess County Senior Assistant District Attorney Brittney Kessel, a member of District Attorney Anthony Parisi’s Special Victims Unit (SVU) has been a prosecutor since 2015 and, after lobbying for the assignment, joined the SVU in 2018. “Ms. Kessel is a fierce prosecutor and a dedicated member of numerous Multi-Disciplinary Teams striving to increase offender accountability and enhance victim safety,” according to Family Services.” Kessel is described as the prosecutor who “works tirelessly to hold offenders accountable and seek justice for victims.”
Dutchess County Deputy Sheriff Russell Seymour has twenty-eight years of service in law enforcement and most recently was selected to serve as the dedicated deputy for the Domestic Violence Unit established by Sheriff Kirk Imperati. Seymour, according to Family Services, “consistently goes above and beyond to support survivors, hold offenders accountable, and serve as a great support for colleagues inside the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office and out.” He has also been credited with being” instrumental” as part of the Family Services Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Violence.
