The New York County District Attorney’s Office is committed to ensuring that prosecutors can use fair and equitable tools to address crime and uphold justice. With this mission, District Attorney Vance supports the following legislation:
Classic Enforcement
- Collect DNA upon Conviction for all Crimes
- Create the Crime of Aggravated Domestic Violence
- Strengthen Identity Theft Laws
- Create the Crime of Aggravated Criminal Conduct
- Enact the Public Corruption Prevention and Enforcement Act (PCPEA)
Classic Enforcement Priorities
Collect DNA upon Conviction for all Crimes
DNA is a proven crime fighting tool, both in new and cold cases. The 2006 DNA databank expansion, which added some misdemeanors to the list of eligible offenses, has led to 1,595 convictions as of December 2009. Expanding the databank to include all felonies and Penal Law misdemeanors on conviction is a simple step to help solve complicated crimes.
Create the Crime of Aggravated Domestic Violence
From 2005 to 2010, in New York County alone, there were 679 individuals convicted of 2 or more domestic violence offenses. Of those 679 defendants, 234 - or 34% - had at least one case with a felony-level assault charge.
To address the gravity of repeated domestic violence, District Attorney Vance supports the creation of a new E felony to be charged when a person commits a specified domestic violence offense two or more times within five years.
Strengthen Identity Theft Laws
The broad range of crimes that comprise identity theft evolved rapidly over the last decade or so; the current legal framework fails to address contemporary cases of identity theft. In order to protect New Yorkers from being doubly victimized – first from identity thieves and then from Penal Laws that don’t hold offenders accountable for their crimes – it is imperative that legislators create a new Penal Law Article 191, which contains modernized, consistent identity theft laws.
Create the Crime of Aggravated Criminal Conduct
District Attorney Vance supports the creation of an E felony crime of Aggravated Criminal Conduct for defendants who have extensive records of eight or more A misdemeanor or felony convictions within five years. In New York County alone, 2,098 individuals were convicted of 8 or more A misdemeanors or higher level crimes during the five years spanning from 2006 to 2010. The judicious application of this law would show repeat offenders that the revolving door of the criminal justice system is closed. It would also increase oversight of repeat offenders and provide motivation to access rehabilitative services.
Enact the Public Corruption Prevention and Enforcement Act (PCPEA)
District Attorney Vance supports the Public Corruption Prevention and Enforcement Act, a multi-pronged approach to combating public corruption. PCPEA both discourages corrupt actions and holds public officials accountable for behavior that is antithetical to the basic responsibilities inherent to public service.
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