D.A. Bragg Creates “Pathways to Public Safety”

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jr., today announced the creation of the Office’s first Pathways to Public Safety Division (“Pathways”) to elevate the use of diversion and evidence-based programming, ensuring individuals involved in the criminal justice system receive necessary services to reduce recidivism and enhance public safety. This major restructuring will strengthen the Office’s work related to alternatives to incarceration, specialized court parts, pre-arraignment diversion, restorative justice practices, and reentry practices. Additionally, Pathways will provide each of the six existing Trial Division bureaus with a dedicated prosecutor to serve as a resource from arraignment to sentencing, proactively identifying individuals who would benefit from diversion and programming without jeopardizing community safety.

“The Pathways to Public Safety Division will secure dynamic, individually tailored outcomes that are proven to keep our communities safe while giving our fellow New Yorkers the help they need,” said District Attorney Bragg. “By identifying opportunities for diversion at the beginning stages of a case, instead of weeks to months after an arrest, we can increase effectiveness and break cycles of recidivism. Pathways will provide prosecutors with support and resources from screening through sentencing, incorporating alternatives to incarceration into the bedrock of the Office’s work. That means identifying candidates for programming as early as possible, while closely monitoring an individual’s progress throughout – ensuring accountability instead of a revolving door.”

“Osborne Association is deeply supportive of using diversion and ATI options as early as possible and at every opportunity, while being intentional about not widening the net of Court supervision unnecessarily. We look forward to our continued partnership with District Attorney Bragg, and Pathways Division Chief Sherene Crawford, and their team to support their new Pathways to Public Safety Division,” said Osborne Chief Program Officer Susan Gottesfeld. “Connection to ATIs like those Osborne offers in the Manhattan Justice Opportunities program in Manhattan Criminal Court, and El Rio, which provides substance use treatment as an alternative to incarceration, serves to maximize options proven to support public safety. We are hopeful that identifying cases for ATIs earlier will also serve to free up our clogged courts and support the reduction of the population on Rikers Island and other City jails.”

Read the full press release here.