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WESTCHESTER, NY — Westchester County District Attorney-Elect Mimi Rocah, the former federal prosecutor who won election after a successful campaign on a reformist agenda to modernize the DA’s office, has announced her transition team. Zachary Carter and Leroy Frazer, two widely-respected veteran law enforcement leaders in New York, will lead 12 committees chaired by experts in criminal justice policy, seasoned leaders in law enforcement and victim advocacy, and partners from community organizations and services. 

“This is an ambitious transition team because I have an ambitious agenda. The breadth and depth of this team, with criminal justice experts and community representatives, should be a sign to the people of Westchester that I mean to deliver on our goals of finding innovative approaches to public safety and increasing transparency and community involvement,” said Rocah, who will be sworn in January 1, 2021. “People’s confidence in our institutions, especially law enforcement, is wavering right now and we have a duty to rebuild trust locally and ensure that everyone feels safe in our community. I am proud of the team we have assembled to ensure a smooth transition in these chaotic times and affirm our commitment to justice and fairness for all.” 

The committees are focused on enhancing training and ethical guidelines for prosecutors; increasing data collection capabilities and transparency to tackle racial and gender bias; improving immigrant affairs and community engagement; increasing diversity and inclusion in office operations and hiring; making engagement with law enforcement across the county more efficient and productive; enhancing support and services for crime victims; establishing meaningful conviction integrity; improving gun, gang and violence prevention and better addressing cold cases; identifying and combating hate crimes; enhancing alternatives to incarceration, diversion, restorative justice, and re-entry programs, as well as finding new approaches to mental health, addiction and youth justice issues; working with defense attorneys and members of labor unions and worker advocates. 

Carter, former US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, was most recently former Corporation Counsel of New York City. He will co-chair the transition team with Frazer, a former NYC prosecutor of 38 years.

TRANSITION

Led by Zachary Carter and Leroy Frazer, two widely-respected law enforcement veterans in New York, the Rocah Transition Team is comprised of 12 committees, each chaired by experts in criminal justice policy, seasoned leaders in law enforcement and victim advocacy, and partners from community organizations and services. The breadth and scope of the team’s collective background, experience and expertise signals DA-Elect Rocah’s commitment to modernizing the DA’s office, finding innovative approaches to public safety, and increasing transparency and community involvement.

Co-Chairs: Zachary Carter– former US Attorney, Eastern District of NY; former Corporation Counsel, NYC
Leroy Frazer– former Bureau Chief and Executive ADA, Manhattan and Brooklyn District Attorneys

Executive Directors: 

Amy Finzi – Former Assistant US Attorney, Southern District of NY
Lila Kirton – Bureau Chief, Westchester County District Attorney’s Office

*listed in alphabetical order

Conviction Integrity

Chair: Barry Scheck – Founder & Special Counsel, The Innocence Project
Vice Chair: Mina Malik – Lecturer; Sr. Advisor, Harvard University’s Fair Punishment Project
Jeffrey Deskovic – Founder, Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation; exoneree
Karen Newirth – Director, Exoneration Project Mass Exoneration Initiative
Rev. Dr. Gregory Robeson Smith – Sr. Pastor, Mt. Hope AME Zion Church, White Plains

Defense Counsel Advisory

Chair: Mayo Bartlett -Civil rights & criminal defense attorney 
Tamika Coverdale – Legal Aid Society of Westchester
Clare Degnan – Executive Director, Legal Aid Society of Westchester
David Dorfman – Professor, Pace University School of Law
Kerry Lawrence – Criminal defense attorney
Saad Siddiqui – Sr. Assistant County Attorney, Juvenile Delinquency-Westchester Department of Law; Chair, Criminal Justice-Westchester County Bar Association 

Diversity, Inclusion & Hiring

Chair: Barbara Lerman -Attorney
Kristen Browde – President, NYS LGBT Bar Association; Co-President, National Trans Bar Association
Rev. Doris Dalton – Director of Leadership Development and Intercultural Competency,  United Methodist Church New York Conference
Lisa Denig – NYS Office of Court Administration; Former Acting Executive ADA
Mina Malik – Lecturer; Sr. Advisor to Harvard University’s Fair Punishment Project
Sharon Matthie – President, Westchester Black Bar Association
Rachel Pauley – Director of Government Programs, Social Justice Initiatives & Lecturer, Columbia Law School

Gun, Gang, and Violence Prevention

Chair: Berit Berger -Executive Director, Center for the Advancement of Public Integrity at Columbia Law School; Former Assistant US Attorney, EDNY & SDNY
Damon Bacote – Statewide Training Director, SNUG Street Outreach
Dr. Jim Bostic, Th.D. – Executive Director, Nepperhan Community Center
Barry Graubart – NYS Deputy Chapter Lead, Advocacy, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Dwayne Murray – Shamoya McKenzie Foundation
James Nolan – Founder & President, The Michael Nolan Foundation, Inc.
Evan Segal – Chairman, Segal Family Foundation 
Nick Suplina – Managing Director for Law & Policy, Everytown for Gun Safety
Henry Terry – Supervisor, SNUG Street Outreach, Mount Vernon

Identifying and Combating Hate Crimes

Chair: Kelly Berkell – Sr. Research Fellow, Center for Terrorism at John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Ron Burton – Westchester Jewish Council
Imam Mohamed Shaffieq Chace – Islamic Center of New Rochelle
Elliot Forchheimer – CEO, Westchester Jewish Council
Rev. Dr. Stephen Pogue – Greater Centennial AME Zion Church of Mt. Vernon
Saad Siddiqui – Sr. Assistant County Attorney, Juvenile Delinquency-Westchester Department of Law; Chair, Criminal Justice-Westchester County Bar Association 
Judy Troilo – Executive Director, The Loft LGBTQ+ Community Center 

Immigrant Affairs/Community Engagement

Chair: Lila Kirton – Bureau Chief, Westchester County District Attorney’s Office
Robin Bikkal – Immigration Attorney
Carola Otero Bracco – Executive Director, Neighbor’s Link
Robert Horne –  Sr. Counsel, Regional Immigration Assistance Center, LAS Westchester 
Saad Siddiqui – Sr. Assistant County Attorney, Juvenile Delinquency-Westchester Department of Law; Chair, Criminal Justice-Westchester County Bar Association 
Rev. Dr. Gregory Robeson Smith – Sr. Pastor, Mt. Hope AME Zion Church, White Plains

Labor & Worker Safety Advisory

Chair: Elliot Jacobson – Former Assistant US Attorney, Southern District of New York
Michael Carriere -Organizer, District Council 9 Painters and Allied Trades
Esmeralda Hoscoy – Regional Director, Westchester County Catholic Charities Community Services
Jirandy Martinez – Executive Director, Community Resource Center
Louis Picani – Political Director, Westchester Putnam Building Trades
Rona Shapiro – Executive VP, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East
Amanda Velasquez – Labor Relations Specialist, NYSUT

Law Enforcement Relations & Coordination

Chair: Amy Finzi – Former Assistant US Attorney, Southern District of New York
Wade Hardy – Retired White Plains Police Dept. Sgt.; President, Westchester Rockland Guardians Association 
John Hodges – Chief of Investigative Services, Westchester County Police Department 
Jennifer Lackard – Deputy Commissioner for Special Initiatives, Mount Vernon Police Department
Tom Luzio – Former Chief, Narcotics Bureau-Westchester DA’s Office; Former Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Organized Crime Task Force-NYS AG’s Office
Chris McNerney – President, Westchester Police Chiefs’ Association; Chief, Greenburgh Police Department
Louis Molina – First Deputy Commissioner, Westchester Dept. of Corrections; Former Deputy Chief, Detective Investigations Bureau-Kings County DA’s Office 
John Mueller – Police Commissioner, Yonkers Police Department  

Office Training & Ethics

Chair: Jennifer Rodgers – Adjunct Professor of Clinical Law, NYU Law School; Lecturer, Columbia Law School; Former Executive Director, Center for the Advancement of Public Integrity
Carol Barry – Professor, Pace University School of Law
Lisa Denig – NYS Office of Court Administration; Former Acting Executive ADA
Lou Fasulo – Defense Attorney; Professor, Pace University School of Law
Rachel Pauley – Director of Government Programs, Social Justice Initiatives & Lecturer, Columbia Law School

Restorative Justice, Alternatives to Incarceration, Diversion, Re-entry, Mental Health, Addiction & Youth

Chair: Louis Molina – First Deputy Commissioner, Westchester Department of Correction; Former Deputy Chief, Detective Investigations Bureau-Kings County DA
Dr. Jim Bostic, Th.D. – Executive Director, Nepperhan Community Center
Elizabeth Cronin – Director, New York State Office of Victims Services
Allison Lake – Executive Director, Westchester Children’s Association
Tom Luzio – Former Chief, Narcotics Bureau-Westchester County DA’s Office; Former Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Organized Crime Task Force-NYS AG
Adam Mansky – Former Director of Criminal Justice, Center for Court Innovation
Saad Siddiqui – Sr. Assistant County Attorney, Juvenile Delinquency-Westchester Department of Law; Chair, Criminal Justice-Westchester County Bar Association 

Transparency/Data

Chair: Michael Jacobson – Founder & Director, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance; Chair, New York City Criminal Justice Agency
Erica Bond – Policy Director,Data Collaborative for Justice -John Jay College
Preeti Chauhan – Director,Data Collaborative for Justice-John Jay College
Reagan Daly – Research Director, CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance 
Dr. Kathy Kaufman – Sociologist, Data Specialist & Research Analyst
Jeremy Travis – Former President, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice; Executive VP of Criminal Justice, Arnold Ventures

Victim Support & Advocacy

Chair: Elizabeth Cronin – Director, New York State Office of Victims Services
Nicole E. Feit – Sr. Staff Attorney, Hudson Valley Legal Services
Michelle James – Director, Family Justice Center
Cindy Kanusher – Executive Director, Pace Women’s Justice Center 
Karen Cheeks Lomax – Executive Director, My Sister’s Place 
Licia Sandberg – Founder & Sr. Director, Sexual Assault Abuse and Victims Empowerment program, Westchester Medical Center 
Joy Solomon – Director & Managing Attorney, Weinberg Center for Elder Justice

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