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Nancy Barry, the First Deputy District Attorney, transitioned from a long career in the New York State Unified Court System to the District Attorney’s Office in January. Her journey began in 2007 as law clerk for then-Judge Susan Cacace, who is now the District Attorney, followed by roles under Judge Nicolai and various administrative and legal positions.
Throughout her career, Barry held a multitude of titles, including Law Clerk, Administrative Judge, Chief Clerk, District Executive overseeing five counties, Director of Human Resources for the court system and eventually Chief of Operations for the Unified Court System during the onset of COVID-19. During this period, she oversaw 15,000 employees, managed 12 unions and managed statewide court operations and the pandemic response. Notably, she played a pivotal role in modernizing the court system during the pandemic.
Barry is deeply committed to protecting the civil rights of defendants, which led to the implementation of virtual arraignments and virtual court procedures. Her expertise and dedication made her a true pioneer during a challenging time.
Currently, Barry manages staffing, HR, budgets and operations for the District Attorney’s Office, overseeing 260 employees and two unions. During an interview, she emphasized the significance of organization, administration and building effective teams.
"We are a law enforcement agency, and when we discuss community, our primary concern is preventing children from getting into trouble. That’s why visibility is crucial," she said.
To achieve this, the District Attorney’s Office has significantly increased presentations to community groups and schools on various topics, including internet safety, healthy relationships (especially during prom season), DWI offenses and marijuana usage. A crucial aspect of outreach is educating vulnerable groups, particularly seniors, about scams such as fraudulent calls requesting gift cards or credit card photos. The focus is on education as a means of crime prevention, rather than solely on prosecution.
Barry collaborates closely with her communications and community affairs teams. She emphasizes that the goal is not always prosecution, but rather supporting and protecting the community. This involves ensuring that people feel safe, both offline and online. Barry stresses the importance of proactivity, partnership with government and the public and making the DA’s Office approachable and supportive, rather than solely focused on prosecution.
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