Combating Violent Crime
Kathleen began her career as a prosecutor in New York City. As an assistant district attorney prosecuting violations of state law, Kathleen convicted and sent to prison dozens of New York City’s most violent criminals. Later, as a federal prosecutor in Philadelphia, Kathleen handled violent drug and gun cases for the U.S. Department of Justice.
When Kathleen ran for district attorney in 2005, she promised to put her years of courtroom and trial experience prosecuting violent crime to work in Nassau County. Since her election, Kathleen has recruited veteran violent crime trial attorneys, she’s overhauled the trial training of the office’s prosecutors, she’s reduced plea bargaining in violent cases, and she’s led the office to record-setting trial conviction rates on the county’s most serious cases.
Kathleen understands that courtroom success is only one part of keeping communities safe from violent criminals. That’s why she has also partnered with the community to improve its bond with law-enforcement agencies. That understanding is also why she has been pivotal in bringing smart-on-crime innovations to Nassau County, including gun buy-backs, enhanced defendant intelligence debriefings, and an increased focus on partnering with federal law-enforcement agencies on long-term cases targeting violent crime networks. Kathleen has also consistently supported and lobbied the legislature in Albany for the expansion of the state’s DNA databank, ensuring that more victims are able to confront their attacker and get justice in court.
Kathleen also created the office’s first-ever hate crimes prosecutor position. The specially-trained prosecutor serves as a hate crimes legal expert to local police departments and as the primary advocate for victims of hate crimes in Nassau County. Kathleen has also been aggressive in reaching out to community and faith-based groups in the aftermath of hate crimes, holding information sessions in affected neighborhoods and aggressively serving as their voice in court against their attackers.
Kathleen’s experience prosecuting dangerous criminals at the state and federal level, and her vision for how to pair that aggressiveness with innovative strategies and community-based partnerships have developed into a potent model for combating violent crime.
Kathleen’s record on violent crime has earned her endorsements from Nassau County police officers, its D.A. investigators and its corrections officers.