Announcements

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that her office has entered into a formal agreement with Queens Defenders for the launch of a new diversion program based at the Rockaway Community Justice Center, at 19-22 Mott Avenue in Far Rockaway. Under the program, eligible defendants accused of low-level crimes are referred to this locally-based…

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today the creation of eight advisory councils to enhance communications between her office and the various communities that comprise the most diverse county in the United States. “The first time people interact with the District Attorney should not be during a time of crisis or tragedy,” DA Katz said….

Business transactions that require good faith and trust are increasingly being conducted online and through email. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and increasing reliance on technology, transactions once done by in-person interactions and even a trusted handshake now take place virtually. Unfortunately, online predators and scammers have caught on and are using manipulative business email…

District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced the creation of a Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau. This Bureau merges the Office’s former Narcotics Investigations Bureau and Gang Violence bureaus. The Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau will work diligently to suppress violent crime in Queens County by identifying and prosecuting drivers of violence engaged in organized criminal behavior, including…

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced a dedicated Hate Crimes Bureau in her newly reorganized Felony Trial Division. This Bureau is one of the first in the nation committed exclusively to preventing, investigating and prosecuting hate crimes. District Attorney Katz said, “We are the ‘World’s Borough’ with the most diverse population of any county…

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today the creation of the Major Economic Crimes Bureau in her newly reorganized Investigations Division. This Bureau combines the former Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau with components of the former Economics Crimes Bureau. This new crime fighting team will investigate and prosecute a broad array of large-scale financial crimes…

As the Coronavirus Disease 2019 – more commonly referred to as COVID-19 – continues to sweep across our country and particularly in our home borough of Queens, we must keep in mind that another epidemic was already on the rise and is still one of the greatest public health threats facing this generation. Opioid addiction…

The spread of the coronavirus has brought new challenges and responsibilities to all the parents and guardians in Queens County. With schools closed many teens and preteens are finding more time to explore the internet on computers and phones. Teens are naturally curious about everything including their sexuality and in this very difficult time may…

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee together will host a Virtual Memorial Day Observance Ceremony on Thursday, May 21, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at www.queensbp.org from the borough home to the highest population of veterans in the City of New York. This is an online-only event, and everyone is…

District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced the creation of a Human Trafficking Bureau that is exclusively dedicated to combating human trafficking in Queens County. This newly formed Bureau will combat sex and labor trafficking by aggressively prosecuting traffickers and buyers of sex and will also connect survivors of trafficking with meaningful services to empower them…