New York City is one of the safest cities in America. Crime is at historic lows in all boroughs. Yet, the Bronx still has more than its share: the Bronx represents 17% of New York City's population (2010 US Census), but it accounted for approximately 20% of the City’s violent crime.
- Overall violent crime in this county has decreased by nearly 75% since 1990.
- In 2018, there were 91 homicides in the Bronx – a level not seen since the 1960s. But those accounted for approximately 31% of the City’s murders.
- The Bronx accounted for one in four rapes, robberies, felonious assaults.
This Office is fighting the war on crime on a number of fronts:
Rikers Island Prosecution Bureau investigates and prosecutes assaults, contraband smuggling and other crimes by inmates and visitors in the jails.
Public Integrity Bureau investigates and prosecutes crimes committed by elected officials, public officials, civil servants, uniformed members such as Correction Officers, Police Officers.
Firearms Trafficking Unit
Special Investigations Bureau
Addressing Domestic Violence
In 2016, we created the first of its kind in the city Domestic Violence Complaint Room and in 2017 expanded its hours to nights and weekends to serve more of these victims more compassionately and efficiently.
In 2017 we became the first borough in the city to have a Strangulation Initiative, a unique partnership with police to help prevent DV homicides, because strangulation is the bell weather of escalating abuse.
Integrated Domestic Violence (IDV) Court: The Bronx IDV Court, the first such court in New York State, serves families by allowing a single judge to hear multiple case types – criminal, family, and matrimonial – when it relates to a single family where the underlying issue is domestic violence. This method allows for greater consistency in the Court’s decisions and better service for families.
Alternatives to Incarceration Bureau
Created in 2017, it provides several diversion programs for defendants who have drug addiction or mental health issues.
In 2017, we became the first DA’s Office in the city with a court program providing treatment to offenders at risk of opioid overdose, before entering a guilty plea. The Overdose Avoidance and Recovery Program (OAR) steered 50 people into treatment in its first 90 days.
In early 2019, the Office announced the one-year anniversary of “Project Reset: Bronx Community Justice.” The initiative deviates low-level offenders from the criminal justice system, allowing them continue with their lives without a stain on their record. In the program, defendants and community volunteers participate in restorative “circles”--discussions held in community centers and public libraries that aim to resolve the immediate concern and restore balance to the community. During the circle, both the defendant and community members speak about how the crime affected them personally and its effect on the community. Dozens of defendants have completed the program since it started in 2018.