A deadly unprovoked subway shoving, a bus operator attacked because of traffic, a station agent's eye socket fractured in an assault, and a subway cleaner attacked are some of the high-profile transit crimes currently making their way through the courts. 

“It is our goal to see that these people that threaten the safety of our customers and our employees are held to the fullest extent of the law and are aggressively prosecuted,” Katie Falasca said.

Falasca is the MTA’s first criminal justice advocate. 

What You Need To Know

  • In 2016, assaults against transit workers were made a D-felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison, but most cases get pleaded down to lesser charges 

  • The NYPD and MTA said many of the subway crime is committed by a small amount of repeat offenders

  • The MTA's new criminal justice advocate will work with prosecutors, judges and victims to make sure suspects are convicted and sentenced according to the law

“It felt like a really special opportunity," she said. "I have a prosecutorial background, I’ve had a law enforcement background working with NYPD, and I’ve also always working with crime victims. 

The governor created the position in March as part of her five-point subway safety plan. But officials have said despite increased police presence, safety is a challenge because of recidivism.

According to the NYPD, in 2023, 38 people arrested for assaults on MTA workers had over 1,160 arrests combined among them.

Also, of about 13,600 subway arrests last year, 124 people were arrested five or more times, according to officials. 

“We want to make sure that people who again and again prey on public transit riders, you know that they throw the book at them and not just let them off easy," MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said. "And that’s why we’re, as we said, we hired Katie Falasca, a career DA, to go push judges and district attorneys to not go easy on these folks. It’s meant to be a felony if you attack an MTA worker, it frequently gets knocked down to a misdemeanor.”

The MTA has not said how many defendants have been sentenced to the maximum seven years in prison for assaulting an MTA worker, but Falasca wants to make that the norm.

“I think we could be more trauma informed in working with witnesses to gain further cooperation," said Falasca. "I think that there are any number of ways to ensure that prosecutions are strengthened."

It seems at least one district attorney's office is receptive to her work.

“Katie Falasca’s valuable experience and work in public service make her the perfect collaborator to help us ensure the most violent offenders are held accountable, and the victims of transit crimes are supported. We will continue to use all the tools at our disposal… to achieve lasting public safety for our workers, commuters and subway riders," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.

While subway crime is down about 5% from last year, Falasca said the true measure of success for her is that New Yorkers not only feel safer, but are safer.