New York MTA Names Criminal Justice Advocate

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chair/CEO Janno Lieber appointed Kathryn Falasca as the MTA’s first Criminal Justice Advocate.

An experienced criminal attorney, she will work with law enforcement agencies, prosecutorial agencies, and community-based organizations to ensure offender accountability through the strongest possible investigation and prosecution of those who commit crimes against MTA customers and employees.

Additionally, she will work to advocate and provide support for crime victims in the system.

“Our customers say they want to be safe and feel safe and keeping repeat offenders — who disproportionately commit much of the subway crime — out of transit is essential,” said Lieber. “Katie Falasca is the right person with the right background to work with the justice system on behalf of both riders and transit employees.”

Falasca’s History

Falasca most recently served as director, strategic initiatives bureau, at the New York City Police Department (NYPD), where she provided policy recommendations and oversaw projects to enhance prosecutions while working with city and state agencies, hospitals, and survivor groups to ensure that NYPD’s investigative practices were victim-centered and informed by the trauma experienced by survivors.

She began studies investigating issues of harassment on public transportation prior to her tenure.

Prior to the Strategic Initiatives Bureau, she served as director and special counsel in NYPD’s Department Advocate Office, where she oversaw several projects related to members of service who were crime survivors. She began her career in public service as an asst. district attorney in the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office.

During her tenure there, she prosecuted hundreds of misdemeanor and felony cases, specializing in domestic violence, rape, arson, homicide, and other cases of heightened sensitivity. She has worked with the National Center for Victims of Crimes as well as the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crimes.

MTA Adding to Safety Measures

Falasca’s appointment as criminal justice advocate comes as crime in the subway has steadily decreased year-over-year since the pandemic.

The latest transit crime statistics from the NYPD show that major crimes decreased by 7.7% year-to-date through July 2024 in the subway system. July was the sixth consecutive month with a double-digit decrease in subway crime.

Last year, overall crime in the transit system fell nearly 3% compared to 2022, as the number of riders increased by 14%. This year, transit crime was down 15.4% in February, 23.5% in March, 23% in April, 10.6% in May, and 15.3% in June, compared to the same months a year earlier.