In 1971, in response to a burgeoning heroin epidemic, the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for New York City (OSNP) was created pursuant to New York State Judiciary Laws. The enabling legislation directed the city's five District Attorneys to appoint a Special Narcotics Prosecutor with jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute major drug trafficking crimes in the five counties of New York City.
OSNP is the only prosecutorial agency in the country exclusively dedicated to the investigation and prosecution of narcotics felonies. Since its inception, the office has worked effectively with city, state and federal law enforcement to develop and implement approaches against narcotics trafficking and related crime.
Assistant district attorneys are assigned to OSNP by the five City District Attorneys. They are placed in one of three divisions: Trial, Investigations or Alternative Sentencing. The Investigations Division specializes in complex investigations that target citywide, national and international narcotics organizations, money laundering groups and entrenched narcotics gangs. The Trial Division prosecutes the majority of the felony drug arrests referred to the office. The bulk of Trial Division cases are the result of enforcement initiatives against local narcotics activity.
Cases are brought to OSNP by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, New York City Police Department's Organized Crime Control Bureau, Patrol Bureau and Organized Crime Investigation Division, New York State Police, Port Authority Police and the office's own squad of investigators.
The first Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Frank Rogers, was appointed in January, 1972, when many neighborhoods had become overrun by heroin dealers. He was succeeded by Judge Sterling Johnson, Jr., who headed OSNP for 16 years. During his tenure, the reputation of OSNP spread nationally and the office became known for its expertise in fighting both street level crime and large-scale drug trafficking. Robert H. Silbering became the Special Narcotics Prosecutor in 1992. He oversaw the establishment of the Alternative Sentencing Unit, one of the first in the city, and started the Investigators Unit, staffed by law enforcement professionals who work with counterparts throughout the country.
On May 1, 1998, the five District Attorneys appointed Bridget G. Brennan Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York. Special Prosecutor Brennan sets policy on the investigation and prosecution of felony narcotics offenses; implements strategies and programs to address drug-related issues; and oversees the internal operations of an agency with a staff of more than 200 legal and support personnel. Since assuming leadership of the office, Ms. Brennan established the Narcotics Gang Unit and expanded the Alternative Sentencing Division.
Under her leadership, the office has developed innovative strategies to stem the flow of drugs into the city and reduce demand. This has led to the incarceration of major drug traffickers, the dismantling of criminal organizations distributing narcotics throughout the country, and the implementation of new treatment programs for addicted offenders.
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Standing along side of Bridget G. Brennan are former Special Narcotics Prosecutors Robert H. Silbering (left) and Hon. Sterling Johnson Jr., United States District Court Judge (right.) |