District Attorney's Office
Ulster
County Courthouse
275 Wall Street
Kingston, NY 12401
Phone: 845-340-3280
Fax: 845-340-3185
Office Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Mon-Fri
District Attorney and Assistants are on call
24 hours to aid law enforcement
It is the constitutional duty of the District Attorney to conduct all prosecutions for crimes and offenses cognizable by the courts of the county for which they have been elected or appointed.
The District Attorney is the County's Chief Law Enforcement Officer. As such, the roles and duties of the District Attorney and his Assistants are varied:
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Prosecutor
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Educator
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Victims Advocate
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Aide in Improving Criminal Justice Legislation
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Advisor to Police Agencies
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Investigator
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Coordinator of Criminal Justice Agencies
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Administrator
The mission of the District Attorney's Office is to secure just sanctions for those who choose to violate our laws, to protect innocent victims of crime, and strive to develop policies and initiatives aimed at improving the qualify of life in our community.
District Attorneys and their Assistants bear certain ethical responsibilities: Among these they must deal with other attorneys in an aggressive and forceful manner, yet conduct themselves professionally, honestly and avoid an appearance of impropriety. They must demonstrate complete respect for the court, but not fawn over the judiciary. They must be cooperative, but not subservient.
Assistant District Attorneys in the County of Ulster prosecute criminal cases in Ulster County Court and the 23 City, Town and Village Courts within Ulster County. In addition, the District Attorney administers grant programs that provide for crime victims services, the prosecution of major offenses and career criminals, and the operation of investigative teams designed to handle cases of domestic violence and child abuse.
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners
Unit
Phone: 845-340-3363
S.A.N.E. is a program specifically designed to insure that victims of
sexual assaults are treated in a compassionate and humane manner. It is
staffed by specially trained nurse professionals who have been schooled
in the most advanced evidence collection techniques and who are sensitive
to the physical and psychological needs of the victims of these types
of crimes.
Under this program, victims of sexual assault are promptly taken by police agencies to a specially designed area at the Benedictine Hospital. The victim is met by the S.A.N.E. examiners and by a volunteer of the local Crime Victims Assistance Program. After being counseled as to what will transpire and given a full description of their rights, the victims are then examined by a specially trained nurse. The area where the examination is to be conducted is equipped with a waiting room for police and family members. After the examination has been completed, the victim can shower, change into fresh clothing, and receive follow-up information for counseling and medical treatment. Once the examination has been completed, the police agency will transport the victim and her family back to her residence.
At all times, prior to, during and after the exam, the victim is in contact with a member of the Crime Victims Assistance Program. She is kept informed concerning the progress of the investigation, and if an arrest is made, will be fully consulted prior to the disposition of any charges that might be filed.
Consumer Affairs
Bureau
Alice Haberski, Director
20 Lucas Avenue
Kingston, NY 12401
Phone: 845-340-3260
Fax: 845-340-3263
Website: www.co.ulster.ny.us/consumerfraud
The District Attorney's Consumer Fraud Bureau exists to serve and protect consumers and legitimate business from fraudulent and unfair business practices affecting the community.
As Ulster County's principal consumer advocacy agency, the bureau advises the District Attorney and the Legislature on consumer issues and concerns. The bureau is the County's consumer voice in national, state and local forums.
While representing consumers, the bureau has always been sensitive to the concerns of legitimate business.
The bureau's activities include consumer counseling, investigation, education, complaint handling, as well as the broadcast and dissemination of consumer information and strategies.
Ulster County Family
Violence Investigative Unit
1091 Development Court, Kingston, NY 12401
Phone: 845-334-5155
In 1995, recognizing that crimes that occur within the family unit were of increasing concern to members of our community, the Commissioner of the Ulster County Department of Social Services and the District Attorney of Ulster County decided to join forces to address this escalating problem.
The Family Violence Unit seeks to employ the resources and experience of the Ulster County Department of Social Services, the New York State Police, the Ulster County Sheriff's Department, the Kingston Police Department, and the Ulster County District Attorney's Office to investigate incidents of child abuse, domestic violence, and assaults on the elderly. The unit coordinates the activities of all agencies involved in these types of investigations to insure that existing resources are employed in an efficient and an effective manner. The objective of the unit is to specifically address the problems caused by these crimes, so that, ultimately, there will be a decrease in the number of incidents of family violence that occur within Ulster County.