DISTRICT ATTORNEY - NEW YORK COUNTY

News Release
April 11, 2005

Contact: Jennifer Kushner
212.335.9400

Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau announced that Board Members of Community Board #2 Manhattan, which covers Greenwich Village, Little Italy, SoHo, NoHo, and Hudson Square, have adopted a resolution commending some of the community based programs organized by his office.

Mr. Morgenthau said, "The Community Affairs Unit was established to create a link between the community and the District Attorney's Office. I am pleased that Community Board #2's resolution 'fully supports the efforts of the New York County District Attorney's Office in [our] ongoing efforts to protect the citizens of this County.' I am dedicated to helping local residents and businesses solve crime problems and develop strategies to prevent crimes."

The Community Board's resolution praises, in particular, the Trespass Affidavit Program (TAP), the Narcotics Eviction Program, and the Identity Theft Unit. These programs are available to all New York County citizens.

Trespass Affidavit Program (TAP)

TAP represents a combined effort between the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and the NYPD, to assist landlords and tenants and make buildings more livable by putting trespassers, who are often there to buy or sell drugs or commit other crimes, on notice that they face arrest and prosecution. The Community Affairs Unit, which has staff located both at the District Attorney's Office in lower Manhattan and in the Northern Manhattan Office, has two people working full time in administering the TAP. More than 3,200 buildings have enrolled in the TAP and in 2004 there were 4,164 trespass arrests through this program. Landlords and tenants interested in participating in this program should contact the Community Affairs Unit at (212) 335-9082.

Narcotics Eviction Program

There were 31,126 drug arrests last year in Manhattan. The District Attorney's Office developed the Narcotics Eviction Program to compel landlords to bring eviction proceedings against criminals who are using their apartments to deal drugs or for other illegal behavior. Since the program's inception, drug dealers and other illegal business operators have been removed from more than 6200 apartments. The efforts of Community Affairs helps expedite the eviction process. Community residents and tenants who would like to provide anonymous information on illegal businesses operating in apartments should call the Narcotics Eviction Program at (212) 335-4370.

Identity Theft Unit

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office started computer tracking of Identity Theft cases in 2002 under a special grant from the New York State Assembly; thereafter, the Identity Theft Unit was formed to coordinate ongoing office-wide prosecution efforts to combat the fast-growing crime of identity theft. Prosecutors aid identity theft victims by providing one-stop referrals to consumer groups, other government agencies and credit reporting companies. The Identity Theft Unit is comprised of Assistant District Attorneys who have received specialized training and who have expertise in prosecuting crimes associated with identity theft, including credit card and check fraud, the creation of false identification documents, and the use of stolen identification information to obtain banking and credit services.

As part of the effort by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office to combat identity theft, victims are encouraged to call a new hotline that is staffed in English and Spanish at the DA's Office: 212-335-9600. If your community group would be interested in learning more about combating identity theft and would like a speaker from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office to appear before your group, please contact the District Attorney's Community Affairs Unit at 212-335-9082.

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