JUDGE LESLIE CROCKER SNYDER UNVEILS PLAN TO REFORM MANHATTAN'S CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM TO EASE BACKLOG OF 17,000 CASES
Snyder Details Comprehensive Plan to Ensure Cases are Dealt with in Timely and Sensitive Manner
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The announcement of Judge Snyder's plan for dealing with Manhattan Criminal Court reaffirmed her commitment to a creative, progressive role for the Manhattan DA's office in solving many of the issues facing the criminal justice system. Judge Snyder has been speaking out on the need to reform the criminal court system for more than 4 years.
"Criminal Court is often the first place New Yorkers see our criminal justice system at work," Judge Snyder said. "We must inspire confidence in the public with a system of justice that is speedy, fair and organized. Last year the criminal court backlog led to a dismissal of more than 2,000 felony cases for failure to prosecute. My plan will increase efficiency, ensure that justice is served in every case and prioritize serious misdemeanor, and felony cases that must be dealt with in an appropriate and timely manner."
Judge Snyder's plan to reform
* Appointment of a Criminal Court Management "Czar."
* Assign a number of senior Assistant District Attorneys to sort through the backlog on an expedited basis.
* Move to dismiss, rather than adjournment in contemplation of dismissal (ACD), any
unprovable case in the interest of justice, which will relieve calendar congestion.
* Only where appropriate in the interest of justice, offer ACDs because of questionable proof, lack of harm caused by the offense, the outstanding background of the defendant, or other meritorious reasons.
* Assign the most serious misdemeanors, including assaults and domestic violence cases, to more senior felony Assistant District Attorneys to prepare for trial on an expedited basis.
* Assign misdemeanor assistants to "second seat" in order to observe, learn, and participate, whenever possible.
* Institute a "crash course" on the trial of misdemeanors for junior Assistant District Attorneys and insist on their readiness for trial on an expedited basis. A senior Assistant District Attorney will monitor these trials and be available to assist if necessary.
* Enlist the cooperation of the Office of Court Administration to increase trial capacity when the District Attorney's Office is ready to proceed with a significant number of trials.
* Agree to be ready to try most class B misdemeanors in 90 days regardless of legally permissible time exclusions, resulting in less calendar congestion and swifter justice.
* Dismiss cases that cannot be prosecuted as soon as possible, rather than permitting speedy trial time to expire for no valid reason.
* Lobby for changes in the Penal Law and Criminal Procedure law to expedite the Criminal Court process.
* Track recidivistic misdemeanants electronically and focus attention and trial capacity on these defendants; seek greater penalties if convicted.
* Seek legislation to enhance penalties for recidivistic misdemeanants in appropriate cases.
* Agree to early discovery in misdemeanor cases, where appropriate, to obviate the need for most motion practice, and to speed up the practice that remains.
* Divert appropriate cases to community service and other alternative-to-incarceration
programs.
* Utilize community-based service programs where appropriate to ensure more meaningful and constructive alternatives to incarceration and punishment.
Judge Leslie Crocker Snyder is a nationally recognized leader in the criminal justice system, having spent 35 years serving New Yorkers as a prosecutor, judge and devoted public servant.
As a prosecutor, Judge Snyder founded and led the nation's first Sex Crimes Prosecution Bureau and co-authored
Judge Snyder is a progressive leader who fought to reform the Rockefeller Drug Laws for more than a decade and has always supported alternatives to incarceration for non-violent, first time offenders by promoting programs that provide education and job training. In 2007, Judge Snyder and her husband volunteered in post-Katrina New Orleans for 6 months, she in the criminal justice system and he at a free medical clinic.
If elected, Judge Snyder would be the first female District Attorney in the history of
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