__________________________________________Ask the DA
 

I have heard that the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office is renowned for its “community prosecution” approach to fighting crime. What is “community prosecution,” and how is it implemented in your office?

”Community prosecution” is a relatively new approach to reducing crime. It is a natural complement to “community policing,” which is an extremely effective crime fighting strategy that has helped many cities drastically reduce crime and keep their numbers down. New York City, which has the lowest crime rate of any large city in the country, is probably the best example of a locality that has benefited greatly from the implementation of various community policing strategies, all of which emphasize the need for police officers to work with residents, businesses and community groups to solve local problems, restore neighborhood order and help deter crime, as well as apprehend criminals.

Pursuant to my belief in the effectiveness of community-based solutions to crime, my office has implemented “Zone Prosecution.”  In brief, we have divided Brooklyn into five geographic zones; crimes committed within each zone are prosecuted by a corresponding trial bureau known as a “Trial Zone.” The five Trial Zones, which are known by color-coded designations, each encompass four or five police precincts, all of which have their own precinct commanders and community precinct councils.

As a result of this realignment, assistant district attorneys who previously prosecuted cases from all over Brooklyn now have a tighter focus. Instead of trying to understand the crime problems of a population of almost 2½ million people, covering an area of over 70 square miles, prosecutors now have responsibility for approximately 400,000 to 500,000 people in an area of approximately 10 to 15 square miles. Zone prosecutors work closely with local police officers and have a much better sense of the impact of a particular case on their assigned communities. By requiring the managers of the Zones to meet with their police precinct commanders, community precinct councils, community leaders and residents, my office can now give priority to important cases and respond more effectively to neighborhood crime problems.

For more information on my office’s Trial Zones, please visit the office’s Web site at www.brooklynda.org. To have your questions answered in a future column, send them to asktheda@brooklynda.org.