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Office of the District Attorney P. David Soares Soares Announces 4 New Initiatives ALBANY, NY – District Attorney P. David Soares today announced four new initiatives including a Safe Homes / Safe Streets Program, a re-evaluation of sentencing guidelines for DWI convictions, a Forum to the Safety Net for Crime Victims, and a Neighborhood Watch Program. “The Soares Administration starts today,” said the District Attorney as he unveiled his new programs. “I promised the people of Albany County that this administration would bring “best practices” in law enforcement here to Albany County and that my office would take a pro-active, tough and smart approach to crime fighting. These initiatives represent the down payment on that commitment,” he added. The Safe Homes / Safe Streets Program consists of two initiatives: the Trespass Affidavit Program and the Narcotics Eviction Program. “For too long, law enforcement and landlords have been powerless to fight drug dealing when it takes place within the confines of private rental apartments. These programs represent a teaming up of landlords, prosecutors, and uniformed officers to eliminate the safe havens provided by hallways, stoops, and apartments in rental property which are used for drug dealing.” The programs will initially be targeted at the high crime Albany neighborhoods which are currently the target of the IMPACT program. “As IMPACT pushes drug dealers off the streets, we are going to greet them at the apartment door and send them on their way. These programs are all about eliminating safe havens.” Soares said. Soares also announced that he will be establishing a panel consisting of leading members of law enforcement and the defense bar to formerly review the sentencing guidelines for repeat offenders of DWI laws. “My Office has already stiffened the penalties for repeat offenders by sentencing repeat offenders to state prison. What this panel will do is to review national standards and recommend a standard set of sentencing guidelines for repeat offenders. The bottom line is that people who continue to drive drunk on our public streets and highways are a clear and present danger to public safety and must be removed from society. The existing programs don’t work so we need a new program,” Soares said. “Victims services in this County are in turmoil,” Soares said. “The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program has effectively been terminated at Albany Med, the Child Advocacy Center is in peril, and a controversy has emerged regarding the restructuring of the Rape Crisis Center and the Crime Victim Advocates. I have heard the public anguish about these issues and I want to hear more. The proposed Victim Services Forum will provide a platform where members of the public can make their voices heard on these and related issues.” “Finally, I have always believed that the foundation of a safe community is a strong neighborhood organization,” Soares said. “The best neighborhood watch program in the County currently exists in the City of Cohoes. I have allocated a portion of the proceeds of the asset forfeiture funds collected by our seizure of assets from drug dealers to strengthening effective neighborhood watch programs. The first such grant will be going to the Cohoes Neighborhood Association for walkie talkies and Tee Shirts, I anticipate that similar groups will want to emulate they work that the people of Cohoes are currently doing.” Back to Press Releases For further information contact: Richard Arthur
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