You are reading

Defendants to be Arraigned via Video Conferencing: Queens DA

Melinda Katz Queens DA

March 18, 2020 By Christian Murray

The Queens District Attorney’s office plans to facilitate the arraignment of defendants via video conferencing in an attempt to keep employees and alleged criminals safe from COVID-19.

Melinda Katz, Queens District Attorney, announced yesterday that her office has taken a number of steps to protect defendants, victims, witnesses and jurors safe from the COVID-19 virus.

“This office will continue to function and work with our criminal justice system to assure that the rights of both defendants and victims are safeguarded,” Katz said in a statement. “The responsibilities of my office are essential to continuing function of public safety and may be even more so as this crisis evolves.”

Katz said that her office is cooperating with courts and the defense bar to facilitate arraignments via video conferences.

She said that defendants will appear on video screens from within the confines of Central Booking if they are in good health. Sick defendants will be taken to Red Hook Community Court and be arraigned via video conferencing from there.

Defendants will still have the opportunity to meet with their defense attorney via video conferencing.

She said that her office will prioritize cases and plans to delay court appearances.

Katz said that members of her staff that are able to perform their jobs from home will work remotely—and internal meetings will take place via videoconferencing. Assistant District Attorneys will telework where ever possible, she said.

“The headlines are frightening, but we know that there are numerous things we can do to combat this growing epidemic,” Katz said. “My first priority is to make sure we continue to provide a fair criminal justice system. We are mandating changes will help keep everyone safe while at the same time ensuring the rights of defendants.”

email the author: [email protected]

One Comment

Click for Comments 

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Met Council leader warns of ‘catastrophe’ for low-income families in Queens due to lack of pandemic-era federal food aid

Mar. 28, 2023 By Bill Parry

As an accomplished legislator, law professor and media personality with broad experience in government and not-for-profit organizations, Met Council CEO and executive director David Greenfield is well aware of the power of words. With Passover arriving on Wednesday, April 5, and with federal pandemic food assistance no longer available to low-income families in Queens, the leader of the nation’s largest Jewish charity organization warned of a coming “catastrophe” and called for the city to step up to provide $13 million in emergency funding for pantries to help New Yorkers facing food insecurity and elevated costs of living in the borough.

Pair of Queens community organizations will activate public spaces to celebrate local cultures

Two Queens community organizations are among an inaugural cohort of five groups citywide that will lead new projects to celebrate local cultures and histories in public spaces under a new initiative called The Local Center in a partnership between Urban Design Forum and the Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development (ANHD).

At a time when New York is grappling with an uneven pandemic recovery and as displacement looms large for communities and neighborhoods across the five boroughs, this new endeavor will convene interdisciplinary teams to transform and activate the shared spaces where cultural traditions flourish — and importantly, center the community visions and leadership that is too often left out of the process.