By Eileen Buckley
June 29, 2004 – Community prosecution is an option to help crack down on neighborhood crimes. The Crime Prevention Association of Western New York met with prosecutors from the Erie County District Attorney's office MOnday to learn more about the program.
The Community Prosecution Unit is able to target problems and individuals directly, such as people causing disturbances who don't even live on the premises. The unit also works to rehabilitate repeat offenders of graffiti or perhaps urinating on property.
The Crime Prevention Association hosted a seminar at UB'S South campus Mondayto learn more about the Erie County's Community Prosecution Program. Assistant district attorney Thomas Kubiniec said community prosecution crimes usually deal with prostitution or trespassing, but also include "quality of life" crimes, such as loud noise. Kubiniec stressed that these crimes are not just happening in Buffalo, but also in the suburbs.
"There are crimes in the suburbs that are effecting the quality of life. The people in the suburbs can not turne a blind eye. We need to follow through so people committing these crimes can be held accountable," said Kubiniec.
Canisius College public safety officer James Murphy, who is president of the Crime Prevention Association, said working with the Community Prosecution unit helps shed some light on dealing with "low level" crimes.
"When we look at neighborhoods we have to look at the demographics of each. Examine everything on an individual basis. Then we have to recognize issues at hand for each community. Once we do that, we can attack the quality of life issues, like noise or garbage," said Murphy.
County prosecutors urge citizens to act as a "conduit of information" with police and D-A's office to help prevent repeat neighborhood crimes.