Beyond Survival tells the story of New York’s Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA) and the powerful leadership of currently and formerly incarcerated survivors in creating change.

Through compelling interviews with legislators, judges, and advocates, including survivors of abuse and long-term incarceration, Beyond Survival narrates the 10-year Coalition for Women Prisoners campaign for the DVSJA and spotlights critical efforts to implement this groundbreaking sentencing reform.

We have the exciting opportunity to host a documentary titled Beyond Survival telling the story of the advocacy that led to the passage of the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA) in NY. The DVSJA is a groundbreaking sentencing mitigation statute passed in 2019 that gives judges the discretion to issue lower sentences to survivors of domestic violence who can establish that their abuse was a significant contributing factor to their offense.

The law’s impact has been felt within the Vassar community given the Vassar connection to Nicole Addimando and the fact that she was one of the first survivors in New York State to have her sentence reduced (by the NY Supreme Court of Appeals) under this law. Nicole was a past Vassar employee and many Vassar employees and students were involved in fighting for her freedom. The showing of this documentary and following panel discussion would be a wonderful opportunity to inspire our community about the benefits of sustained work towards social justice.

The film challenges us to confront the inextricable link between domestic violence and imprisonment, and grapple with paramount issues of our time – incarceration, trauma, accountability, and healing.

Beyond Survival is dedicated to the DVSJA community: the survivors who led the DVSJA campaign and who continue to lead, the policymakers who fought against the odds, the hundreds of individuals and organizations that advocated, the legal teams who battle in the courts, and the hundreds more who continue to stand up and speak out.

The event will be in the Villard Room and the film screening will begin at 5:30pm. Light food and refreshments will be served. Organized by The Support, Advocacy, and Violence Prevention (SAVP) Office and Counseling Service. (Many campus co-sponsors as well.)