Westchester Tops State Norm For Felony Conviction Rates

Westchester County’s conviction rate in prosecuting felonies in 2010 was 98 percent, topping the statewide conviction rate of 92 percent, according to a new report.

District Attorney Janet DiFiore said the county has also bested the state average in prosecuting violent felonies, with a 97 percent conviction rate compared to New York’s overall rate of 89 percent.

“In 2010, we again surpassed the statewide average rate for convictions in felony and violent felony cases,” DiFiore said as her office released its annual report for 2010. “Continuing the best practice of vertical prosecutions, our experienced prosecutors ensured comprehensive investigations and tough prosecutions in cases involving violent felonies and vulnerable victims.”

Last year was also one that saw a nearly 50 percent decline in homicides from the previous year’s 43 cases. Of the 22 deaths that were ruled homicides, 12 were shootings, seven involved stabbings or blunt force trauma, two were vehicular homicides and one was a death by strangulation.

Other highlights from the report include:

-       The number of prosecutions involved people identified as gang members rose to 469 in 2010, up from 413 the previous year.

-       The Westchester Intelligence Center, opened in 2008, has begun placing license plate readers at fixed positions in Westchester to help identify and track down crime suspects.

-       The Family Justice Center opened in 2010 and within eight months had provided assistance to 600 victims of domestic violence.