Press Releases
D.A. Vance Urges Cities to Reinvest in Communities of Color in Amsterdam News Op-Ed 
Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, Jr. this week called upon cities across America that are divesting from police in the wake of the killing of George Floyd and numerous other Black men and women to prioritize direct reinvestment in communities of color as a key component of antiracist criminal justice reform.
Statement from Manhattan D.A. Cy Vance, Jr. on U.S. Supreme Court Opinion in Trump v. Vance
“This is a tremendous victory for our nation’s system of justice and its founding principle that no one – not even a president – is above the law. Our investigation, which was delayed for almost a year by this lawsuit, will resume, guided as always by the grand jury’s solemn obligation to follow the law and the facts, wherever they may lead.”
Statement from Manhattan D.A. Cy Vance, Jr. On Incident in Central Park Ramble on May 25, 2020
“Today our Office initiated a prosecution of Amy Cooper for Falsely Reporting an Incident in the Third Degree. Our office will provide the public with additional information as the case proceeds."
D.A. Vance: Puerto Rico to Test 1,500 Backlogged Rape Kits Using Surplus From D.A.’s National Rape Kit Backlog Testing Program
“Untested rape kits cannot and will not sit on shelves collecting dust during the coronavirus pandemic,” said District Attorney Vance. “We owe survivors of sexual assault so much more than to be forgotten for any reason. This investment makes it possible for Puerto Rico to start testing nearly 1,500 backlogged kits today, and begin the crucial path toward securing justice for survivors.
Statement from D.A. Vance, D.A. Clark, D.A. Gonzalez, and D.A. Katz Regarding Chokeholds and Other Restraining Techniques
As we have seen recently with the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and six years ago right here in New York City with the death of Eric Garner, the use of chokeholds and other holds or restraining techniques that can cut off the supply of oxygen to a person’s brain have an unacceptably high risk of death. The NYPD has long recognized the danger of chokeholds, and banned its use nearly three decades ago.
D.A. Vance Declines to Prosecute Protest Arrests
“The prosecution of protestors charged with these low-level offenses undermines critical bonds between law enforcement and the communities we serve. Days after the killing of George Floyd, our nation and our city are at a crossroads in our continuing endeavor to confront racism and systemic injustice wherever it exists. Our office has a moral imperative to enact public policies which assure all New Yorkers that in our justice system and our society, black lives matter and police violence is a crime. We commend the thousands of our fellow New Yorkers who have peacefully assembled to demand these achievable aims, and our door is open to any New Yorker who wishes to be heard."
@ManhattanDA
Although our summer internships and fellowships looked a little different this year, we are grateful to everyone who joined us virtually for their many contributions to our office. #NationalInternDay https://t.co/7Gk65pWF8p
Thanks to the 'voluntary intoxication' loophole, New York's rape laws protect predators — not survivors. We urge the Assembly to take action and bring @SenatorBiaggi's bill to a vote before the end of session. https://t.co/QPr5UMwSw5
D.A. Vance met with NYCHA tenant presidents from across Manhattan to discuss how to invest in a new vision of public safety to curb the uptick in gun violence. ⏬ https://t.co/KZ5kpJaJYf
Manhattan District Attorney's Office