DISTRICT ATTORNEY - NEW YORK COUNTY

NEWS RELEASE
September 10, 2009

Contact: Alicia Maxey Greene
212-335-9400

Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau announced today that Assistant District Attorney Lisa Friel, Chief of Sex Crimes Unit, was honored by the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault for her work in prosecuting thousands of sexual assault cases throughout her career.

The New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault, a non-profit organization, develops and advances strategies, policies and responses that prevent sexual violence and limit its destabilizing effects on victims, families and communities.

Mr. Morgenthau said it was an honor to present the award to Ms. Friel, whom he called an “outstanding prosecutor,” and to four other recipients during the organization’s 1st Annual Celebration of Excellence.

Ms. Friel began her career at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in 1983 after receiving her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. In 1986, she joined the Sex Crimes Unit and became its Deputy Chief in 1991 and Chief in 2002. She is a frequent lecturer at law enforcement training sessions throughout the country. In addition, she trains rape crisis volunteer advocates, sexual assault victims’ mental health providers and medical personnel at hospitals and medical schools throughout Manhattan. She is one of the two co-chairpersons of the New York State District Attorney’s Association’s Sexual Assault Legislative Subcommittee and as such was one of the principal drafters of the Sexual Assault Reform Act of 2001.

In accepting the award from Mr. Morgenthau, Ms. Friel congratulated her co-honorees, including New York City Police Special Victims Detective First Grade Julia Collins-Jollon, SAFE Examiner Jordan Foster, Volunteer Victim Advocate Donna Heggs-Jack and Rape Crisis Professional Julia Hochstadt.

“This is such an honor,” Ms. Friel said. “This award really means so much to me because it came not just from the Alliance, an organization that I am proud to have been a part of since its inception nine years ago, but really from all of you here in the audience with whom I have worked for some many years.”

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