Justice is the idea that people should be treated fairly and equally without discrimination or bias. Our county is home to 1.4 million people, the same population size as a small country like Trinidad and Tobago. As with any community, maintaining safety and order is paramount. This is where the criminal justice system, specifically the district attorney's office, comes in. The Suffolk County District Attorney is elected every four years and the office was established in 1975. The "DA" is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases on behalf of the people ensuring justice is served for victims and their families. So it helps to have a DA with plenty of experience prosecuting cases.
Our current district attorney in Suffolk County is Raymond A. Tierney, Jr. Tierney is a career prosecutor who's served in both state and federal positions. The office is divided into several bureaus and units, each responsible for handling a specific type of case. The bureaus include the Major Crime Bureau, the Special Investigations Bureau, the Narcotics Bureau, the Community Protection Bureau, and the Appeals Bureau. Specialized units, including the Domestic Violence Bureau, the Hate Crimes Unit, and the Environmental Crimes Unit, deal with specific crimes committed in the county. According to the latest crime statistics, Suffolk County has seen a significant increase in violent crime in recent years. With gang violence being a persistent problem in many areas, Tierney's approach serves as an example of preemptive measures that can be taken to combat the violence. In 2022, the county recorded 1,325 incidents of violent crime, up from 1,198 the previous year, including murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Yes, those figures are a cause for concern. However, it's important to note that Suffolk County remains a relatively safe place to live compared to other areas of the state.
To address this issue, the DA's office created The Violent Criminal Enterprises (VCE) Bureau to combat the gun violence and criminal activity perpetrated by gangs and criminal organizations in Suffolk County. By prioritizing the issue and dedicating resources to it, the DA sends a message that gang violence will not be tolerated in Suffolk County. Seeing the impact on the community and whether the VCE can serve as a model for other areas facing similar challenges will be interesting as efforts continue to combat the violence. Tierney believes that prevention is vital to reducing gang violence in the county. To that end, he has implemented several community outreach and prevention programs to keep young people away from gangs. These programs include after-school programs, mentorship programs, and job training programs. Tierney hopes to reduce the number of young people drawn into gangs and reduce gang violence in the county by providing positive alternatives to gang involvement.
The district attorney's office also promotes restorative justice, which emphasizes repairing the harm caused by crime and addressing the needs of victims and victims' families.
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