Sex Crimes Unit

The Sex Crimes Unit was established in 1974. It was the first unit in the country dedicated to the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault (rape, sexual abuse, and other criminal sexual acts). The Unit is staffed by forty senior ADAs, who are selected not only for their ability in the courtroom but also because they exhibit a sensitivity to the issues unique to survivors of these crimes. Widely recognized for its services provided to sexual assault victims and its role in dramatically increasing the conviction rate of sex offenders, the Sex Crimes Unit has been used as a model by similar units all over the country.

The Sex Crimes Unit's work is not limited to prosecutions. In addition to trial work, members of the Unit spend a great deal of time training medical personnel about protocols for victim examinations, lecturing to police about case investigation techniques, and informing the public about sex crimes. Prosecutors all over the state and country have followed the Sex Crimes Unit model.

The Sex Crimes Unit works closely with the NYPD's Special Victims Squad, frequently interacting with detectives from the moment a rape case is reported to the police.

The Sex Crimes Unit also investigates and prosecutes individuals who sexually exploit children over the age of 14 via the Internet (exploitations of children under fourteen are prosecuted by the Family Violence and Child Abuse Bureau). Children are exploited via the Internet through the manufacture and distribution of child pornography, and by persons who seek to make contact with children online for the purpose of engaging them in sexual activity. The Sex Crimes Unit now prosecutes numerous such crimes each year.