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District attorney seeks authority to spend $377,739 state grant to add domestic‑violence prosecutors and advocate
Summary
Albany County District Attorney Lincoln Lehi asked the legislature to authorize spending a $377,739 New York State grant to hire two district attorneys and a crime‑victim advocate focused on domestic violence; he described the grant as a pilot and said it could be a force multiplier for countywide coverage.
Albany County District Attorney Lincoln Lehi told the Law Committee the district attorney’s office needs legislative authority to spend a state grant totaling $377,739 to expand domestic‑violence prosecution and victim services.
Lehi said the grant from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services is a pilot program focused on preventing intimate‑partner violence in the City of Albany and that the award will allow his office to hire two additional assistant district attorneys and a crime‑victim advocate for domestic violence work. He said the hires would allow the office to reassign two existing DAs to cover cities, towns and villages elsewhere in Albany County.
Lehi said, “this grant money totaling $377,739 is gonna allow the district attorney's office to hire 2 more district attorneys, as well as, crime victim advocate, for domestic violence.” He described the funding as a “force multiplier” and said the office hopes to demonstrate success that could expand the program to suburban towns and villages in Albany County.
Grant details and term
Lehi noted the grant period referenced in the materials runs from March 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026. Committee members asked whether the state intended this funding stream to be permanent; Lehi said he had been told the funding is likely to be ongoing but cautioned that such assurances are not guaranteed.
Committee action
A legislator moved the item, it was seconded and approved on voice vote (“Aye”). No detailed roll‑call tally is recorded in the transcript. Presenters indicated they would proceed with hiring if the legislature authorized the spending.
Next steps
If implemented, the district attorney’s office will recruit for two ADA positions dedicated to domestic‑violence prosecutions and a victim advocate; the office expects to use the new positions to broaden coverage and, where possible, redeploy existing prosecutors to serve other county areas.
