Railroad News – MTA hires Falasca as agency’s first criminal defense attorney. For railroad professionals

Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber announced this week that he has appointed criminal defense attorney Kathryn Falasca as the New York MTA’s first criminal defense attorney.

Falasca will work with law enforcement, prosecutors and community organizations to advocate for accountability of repeat offenders and thorough investigations and prosecutions. Her position was created to support MTA riders and employees who have been victims of crime, MTA officials said in a news release.

Her appointment comes at the MTA New York City Transit has seen a steady decline in crime on the subway system. Major crimes have dropped 7.7% through July compared to a year ago; overall crime on the transit system has dropped 3%, while ridership is up 14% in 2023, the MTA reports.

Falasca has a victim-centered and trauma-informed law enforcement background and previously served in various positions with the New York Police Department’s Office of Strategic Initiatives, the National Center for Victims of Crimes, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime.