April 9, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

April is National Sexual Assault Awareness and Child Abuse Prevention Month, an annual effort to raise public awareness of these crimes and educate the public on prevention methods. My office is committed to helping survivors break the silence surrounding rape and sexual assault allegations, which remain some of the most under-reported crimes.  Our Special Victims Bureau is staffed by prosecutors who have received extensive training on trauma-informed interviewing techniques. The Bureau works closely with specialized sexual assault examiners at local area hospitals to ensure that services are provided in a compassionate and effective manner. We obtain justice for the survivors of these crimes while providing a path to healing.  The Special Victims Bureau houses the Queens Child Advocacy Center, which addresses the needs of abused children in this County. The multi-disciplinary Center is staffed by legal experts from my office, in addition to professionals from the Cohen Children's Hospital, NYPD, ACS, and Safe Horizon, working together to streamline the investigative process and enhance delivery of services to victims and families affected by child abuse. If you need help, don't hesitate to reach out. Contact SpecialVictims@queensda.org or call 718.286.6505. We're here to help.

In Friendship, Melinda Katz Queens District Attorney

In The Courts

Queens man charged with murder in stray bullet killing of young mother in Astoria Drug dealer from Great Neck sentenced to up to 6 years in prison for criminally negligent homicide

Combatting Anti-Asian Hate Crimes

Earlier this week, I hosted a special webinar on "Combatting Anti-Asian Hate Crimes," which brought together a panel of legal experts, law enforcement representatives, and victim advocates to discuss ways to stop the violence.  My office is here to help and protect victims. Below are resources that anyone can utilize to report a crime, seek information, or report a hateful incident: Queens District Attorney’s Office: Hate Crimes Bureau hotline: 718-286-7010   Office of Immigrant Affairs hotline: 718-286-6690   Crime Victim Advocate Program: 718-286-6812; CVAP@queensda.org NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force: Email: AsianHCTF@nypd.org  Twitter DM: @NYPDAsianHCTF; @NYPDHateCrimes Service Providers: Safe Horizon Community Program Office: 718-899-1233 NYC - Well Mobile Crisis Team: 1 888-692-9355 If you missed it, you can click here to view the webinar in full.

Information Needed

As part of our weekly request for help on behalf of the Cold Case Unit, I am asking for any information regarding the death of Leah Tagliaferri, who was found strangled inside her apartment in Woodside, Queens. If you have any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, please contact the NYPD Crimestoppers. All tips are confidential!

Reflecting On First Year Accomplishments

I had the pleasure of joining Congressman Gregory Meeks for his weekly legislative update to members of the community.  I spoke about this office’s first year accomplishments, including the creation of a Conviction Integrity Unit to restore justice to the wrongfully convicted, and an enhanced Community Partnerships Division to strengthen ties to the many communities that comprise Queens County.

Prioritizing Health & Wellness

This week, Dr. Stacie N.C. Grant celebrated the 2nd Anniversary of SEQ MOVES Health & Wellness with a “Community Call to Action" event that I was proud to attend.  SEQ MOVES promotes awareness of the importance of health, exercise and wellness across the Southeast Queens community, with an emphasis on youth empowerment. I thank her for her leadership during an especially challenging two years. Visit the SEQ Moves Facebook page to learn more about this initiative.

Crime Victims' Rights

April 18 through 24 marks National Crime Victims' Rights Week, a time to renew our commitment to seek justice on behalf of all victims of crime, and provide meaningful resources to survivors and surviving families. That is why I hope that you will join our virtual panel on Wednesday, April 21st, which will feature a conversation on supporting victims, building trust and engaging communities.  To RSVP, please click here or on the flyer below. We hope you will join us.