Taking office at a time crime was on the rise in New York City and around the country, Alvin Bragg has worked hard to advance data-driven policies that improve safety and justice for all. While there is still much more work to do, every day we see the hard work of the D.A.'s office delivering results for Manhattan. Take a look at his first year record:
Making Manhattan safer.
Alvin Bragg has worked tirelessly to deliver the safety Manhattan needs and the fairness we deserve - and we are starting to see results. In Alvin's first year, shootings in Manhattan were down 20%, and homicides down 16% - both larger reductions than New York's overall citywide rate. And in the first two months of 2023, virtually every major crime category is lower in Manhattan now than it was last year (NYPD Statistics as of 3/5/2023).
Relentlessly focusing on guns.
Alvin is working together with the NYPD and other law enforcement agencies, and partnering with neighborhood interrupters and community groups to attack the problem from every possible angle to restore the sense of safety that we all deserve, including appointing the first ever Executive Assistant District Attorney for Gun Violence Prevention to lead the effort, dismantling gun trafficking operations, investing in Summer Youth Crime Prevention, hosting successful gun buyback events, and advocating for needed legislation including recently signed legislation mandating microstamping technology in pistols. In year to date gun cases, the DA Office went from a 91% prosecution rate in 2019 to a 95% rate now, and from 217 prosecutions to 473. In addition, it went from 147 indictments to 300, and from 131 convictions to 368.
Expanding Hate Crimes Unit.
The District Attorney office secured $1.7 million funding to expand the Hate Crimes Unit and is not only investigating and prosecuting more hate crimes than ever before, but also conducting trainings with the NYPD on gathering evidence necessary to prosecute and providing outreach and advocacy that helps victims heal and addresses root causes. The office has a record number of hate crime cases pending and are vigorously pursuing accountability.
Elevating the use of Alternatives to Incarceration across DA’s Office
Through the creation of the Office’s first Pathways to Public Safety Division (“Pathways”), Alvin is elevating the use of diversion and evidence-based programming, ensuring individuals involved in the criminal justice system receive necessary mental health and substance abuse services to reduce recidivism and enhance public safety. Diverting people out of the justice system and addressing the underlying needs that are driving their harmful behavior, reduces reoffending and makes our city safer. Through Pathways, the office connects people with mental health services, substance use treatment, job training, cognitive behavioral therapy, housing assistance, or some combination of those things.
TRANSFORMING RESPONSE TO GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE.
Alvin created a Special Victims Division on par with the Appeals, Investigation, Pathways, and Trial Divisions to put the dignity and well-being of survivors at the center of their work. The new organizational structure – along with the forthcoming dedication of resources commensurate with a Division in the Office – represent a significant reimagining of the sex crimes unit and a step toward best supporting a survivor-centered and trauma-informed practice.
Delivering Post-Conviction Justice.
Alvin launched a new application process for those seeking a review of their convictions through the Office’s Post-Conviction Justice Unit (PCJU). Anyone convicted of a crime prosecuted by the Manhattan D.A.’s Office is eligible to submit an application requesting a review. The Unit prioritizes collaboration and trust with the community when reviewing old cases. The first exoneration announced was Steven Lopez, who was charged in the Central Park jogger case.
HOLDING THOSE THAT ABUSE POWER ACCOUNTABLE.
Alvin is working to make sure that all our workers are treated fairly, and that bad faith employers and landlords are held accountable for their crimes, from wage theft to retaliation, tax fraud to tenant harassment. He created the Office’s first-ever Worker Protection Unit to investigate and prosecute wage theft and other forms of worker harassment and exploitation across Manhattan’s many industries and the Office’s first-ever Housing & Tenant Protection Unit, which will target systemic criminal harassment of tenants and abuse of government programs by landlords and developers. He holds those who abuse power accountable.
Improving retail threat prevention.
Through a partnership with retailers, police, service providers, community leaders, and prosecutors, Alvin has implemented a comprehensive plan to help combat retail theft in the borough. The plan ensures that those most responsible are held accountable; develops proactive investigations to dismantle organized retail theft and fencing operations; and improves coordination with local businesses and the NYPD, all while enhancing services and other programmatic solutions. One challenge in addressing this national increase in shoplifting is that the office is already running up against the capacity limits of the community-based providers and the special court parts.