ALBANY – Last week, Sen. Charles Schumer announced he would request an additional $35 million be given to local law enforcement agencies to combat domestic violence.

In a conference call Thursday, Schumer said the $35 million would go to the Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors (STOP) Grant program, which provides additional resources to local law enforcement and the courts in handling violent crimes against women.

The program was created by the Violence Against Women Act and provides funding for local officers and attorneys to specialize in investigating and prosecuting domestic violence cases.

Schumer’s office released new data gathered by the state recording the number of abuses sorted by region. According to the figures, there were 60,000 reported incidents of domestic violence in upstate New York and in Long Island last year. The senator said about 25,000 of those cases involved women being abused by their partners.

The Southern Tier accounted for about 7.5 percent of those incidents, with approximately 4,500 reports of domestic violence in 2008.

“If you look at the New York numbers, it is clear that we need to address this problem now more than ever,” said Schumer, “and to make sure that our law enforcement agencies have the resources they need, and that victims get the help they deserve.”

According to Chenango County Catholic Charities, as of January 2009 the Crime Victims Program has served 112 new clients while continuing services to 135 victims who sought aid in 2008.

The Crime Victims Program offers a range of services to victims of domestic violence in navigating the judicial, medical and social services systems, and to providing temporary safe housing for mothers and children.

Also since the year began, 46 individuals looking for refuge were assigned board in the Safe Dwelling Project, which provides emergency housing to abused victims.