District Attorney Releases 2012 Achievements, 2013 Goals

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe released a 62-page report detailing his department’s accomplishments in 2012, its objectives for 2013 and explanations of its programs. 

Among the achievements was a 95.5% conviction rate in 2012, one of the highest in the state; a slight increase in the number of convictions, 574 in Rockland County Court and more than one‐third, 39.13 percent of criminal cases prosecuted were resolved in the Superior Court Information part, which reduces cost. 

The “Spirit of Rockland” Special Victims Center in Suffern assisted 82 child victims and 73 adult victims, an increase of 20 percent over the center’s first year. All police agencies in the county utilized the Special Victims Center in 2012. The Special Victims Unit worked closely with the county Social Services and Mental Health departments.

The Special Victims Unit increased the number of registered sex offenders by 24 in Rockland County during 2012. Special victims prosecutors assisted local police departments in approximately 175 child and elder abuse investigations last year, a jump of approximately 20% from 2011.

The report listed funds recovered from unscrupulous home improvement contractors, individuals who received overpayments in benefits, and people investigated for welfare fraud, prevailing wage crimes, tax fraud and asset forfeiture.

The Drug Task Force conducted 251 undercover purchases of drugs and/or narcotics; more than 200 investigations, seized powder and crack cocaine, marijuana, prescription drugs and heroin and made 96 arrests.   

It introduced Misdemeanor Drug Court in Spring Valley in 2012. The court is funded by asset forfeiture.

For this year the department plans to expand its Intelligence‐led Community Policing, Community Prosecution and Community Partnerships (IL3CP) with prosecutors, police departments, school districts and local residents. While keeping its focus on serious crime, the department will also target lesser violations that cause quality of life issues.

It will finalize a pilot program that uses evidenced‐based prosecution through a partnership with county Department of Social Services, Clarkstown Police and the Center for Court Innovation and conduct fraud investigations into activities that take taxpayer funds. Other departmental goals include reaching out the community about crime prevention and utilizing technology effectively and efficiently to prosecute and prevent crime in Rockland. The report can be found at: www.rocklandcountyda.com.