ADAPTING TO REFORM:
Leadership Under Pressure

In 2020, New York State implemented sweeping Criminal Justice Reforms (CJR), including significant changes to bail and discovery laws. While these reforms created chaos and slowdowns across many jurisdictions, District Attorney Hoovler demonstrated effective, proactive leadership by restructuring the Orange County DA’s office to maintain public safety and accountability.

The Challenge of Unfunded Mandates

New York's reforms placed immense pressure on local law enforcement and prosecutors, particularly by requiring the immediate, automatic sharing of evidence (Discovery Reform) and severely limiting judicial discretion in holding repeat offenders (Bail Reform).

Instead of blaming the mandates, DA Hoovler invested in innovative solutions to ensure the rapid and high-quality preparation of cases.

The Hoovler Solution: Proactive Investments

DA Hoovler created new systems and units, positioning the Orange County DA’s office as a statewide model for navigating the new laws:

1. Early Case Assessment Bureau (ECAB)

  • What it is: The first bureau of its kind outside of New York City, ECAB was established specifically to comply with the new discovery laws.
  • The Result: By assigning every case to an Assistant District Attorney (ADA) immediately upon arrest, ECAB ensures all evidence is compiled, reviewed, and disclosed within the tight legal window, preventing cases from being dismissed on technicalities.


2. Digital Forensics Unit (DFU)

  • The Problem: Obtaining critical digital evidence (cell phones, computers) is time-consuming and often creates major bottlenecks for police investigations.
  • The Investment: DA Hoovler invested over $750,000 in state-of-the-art technology and training to create the only full Digital Forensics Unit in an upstate District Attorney’s office.
  • The Result: The DFU dramatically reduces wait times for local police, providing high-quality digital evidence quickly, which is essential for compliance with the new discovery mandates and securing convictions.

The Proof Point: Maintaining Accountability

While other counties experienced a dramatic drop in case disposition rates and an increase in dismissals post-2019, DA Hoovler’s proactive management ensured that the Orange County justice system remained stable and effective.

The result is a system that can handle the volume of crime while providing the comprehensive evidence required under New York’s new laws, ultimately keeping dangerous offenders accountable.

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