Curran announces director pick for victims advocate office

Emma Jones
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran nominated Jeanine Diehl to be executive director of the crime victims advocate office. (Photo courtesy of the county executive’s office)

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced her nomination of Jeanine Diehl to be executive director of the Nassau County crime victims advocate office on Monday, March 1.

The Nassau County Legislature voted on Nov. 25 to establish an office tasked with aiding victims and witnesses of violent crimes. Curran signed the legislation in December.

The creation of the victims advocate office is a reaction to the New York State bail reform legislation that passed in April, and went into effect on Jan. 1. The legislation eliminates pretrial detention and optional cash bail in an estimated 90 percent of cases.

Diehl, of Rockville Centre, is currently senior district attorney at the Defense Attorney’s office in Queens, where she has worked since 2001. She attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice and earned her law degree from Touro College.

“Nassau County is taking comprehensive measures to ensure the safety of our residents — especially the victims and witness of crimes,” said Curran in a prepared statement. “I’m proud to announce my nomination of Jeanine Diehl, a highly-qualified law enforcement veteran, to direct our new Office of Crime Victims Advocate. I am confident that she will hit the ground running and help us keep Nassau the safest large County in New York State.”

The appointment is pending county legislative approval.

“We look forward to reviewing Ms. Diehl’s resume and qualifications to lead the office of Crime Victims Advocate, which was created by the Legislature to ensure victims in Nassau County get the representation they deserve,” legislator Richard Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park), the legislature’s presiding officer, said in a statement.

Nassau County Republican legislators who voiced their opposition to bail reform added almost $1 million to Curran’s 2020 budget. Curran vetoed some changes to the budget, but left items related to bail reform intact. $2.9 million in total was allocated to help agencies comply with the new legislation, according to officials.

“I’ve worked closely with our law enforcement to provide the resources needed to comply with new obligations, and to ensure victims and witnesses of crimes are fully protected under the new system,” said Curran.

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