A different borough in practice
Staten Island has a markedly more suburban character than the rest of New York City, and its
abuse claims reflect that. Rather than large teaching hospitals or dense university campuses, the
recurring settings are parishes, scouting units and youth sports organisations, community
institutions with deep local roots and long memories.
Why community institutions are hard to report to
The difficulty on Staten Island is rarely finding the institution. It is that the institution
is woven into the survivor’s own family and neighbourhood, the same parish their parents attend,
the same league their siblings played in. Reporting can feel like an act against the community
rather than against a person.
That is precisely why a confidential conversation, with no obligation to proceed, is worth
having before deciding anything.
Local detail that shapes a claim here
| Local detail | Who or what |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond County |
| Police | NYPD |
| Hospital system | Staten Island University Hospital (Northwell) |
| Hospital system | Richmond University Medical Center |
| University | Wagner College |
| University | College of Staten Island (CUNY) |
| Local crisis support | Safe Horizon Rape & Sexual Assault Hotline, (212) 227-3000 |
| Diocese | Archdiocese of New York, NO, did not file Chapter 11 |
Support in Staten Island
If what you need now is support rather than a lawyer, see
survivor resources, including the RAINN hotline on
1-800-656-4673. Those services are free and independent of this
firm.
Time limits in New York depend on how old you were, who was responsible and the particular facts. There is no single deadline that applies to everyone. Ask rather than assume. It is a free call.
Everyone in my parish knows my family.
That is the central difficulty on Staten Island and it is a good reason to have a confidential conversation before deciding anything. Nothing becomes known because you asked a question.
The youth organisation was run by volunteers from the neighbourhood.
Volunteer-run organisations still carry duties around screening and supervision, and national bodies above a local unit frequently do too.
Would a claim be heard on Staten Island?
Which court hears a claim depends on the defendant and the facts rather than on your address, and it is something we work out early.