The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is hosting a training for AAPI crime victim advocates on December 5^th, 2024 at 8:30am. We are excited to extend an invitation for you to attend and to also help spread the word to others who are doing this important work.

This training is sponsored by NAPIPA and several local District Attorneys’ Offices. They’ve come together with the shared goal of providing a training that will educate pro bono AAPI victim advocates to better understand the criminal justice system in the New York City metropolitan area. Advocates are vitally important in helping overcome cultural and language barriers; not only providing their support and services to victims, but also working with NYPD and the DA’s office to ensure justice is served.

There will be 3 panel discussions:

1. NYPD and its Role and Function  – featuring Deputy Inspector Shibu Madhu (Detective Borough Brooklyn South) and Sgt. Jackie Catalano (NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force). This panel will be moderated by ADA Prabhalya Pulim, Senior Hate Crimes ADA at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office.
2. Hate Crimes and the Law – featuring Hate Crimes bureau chiefs Michael Brovner (Queens County District Attorney’s Office) and Catalina Buitrago-Blanco (Westchester County District Attorney’s Office). This panel will be moderated ADA Hannah Yu, Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit at the District Attorney of New York County.
3. The District Attorney’s function – A Primer – featuring a panel of Assistant District Attorneys.