Decline in Conviction Rates Under Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg

The conviction rate for felony crimes in Manhattan has steadily declined during DA Alvin Bragg’s tenure, with recent data revealing a significant drop this past year. Only 35% of felony cases resulted in convictions last year, a decrease from previous years when rates were 37% in 2023, 40% in 2022, and 42% in 2021. Before Bragg’s start in 2022, the conviction rate in 2019 was 64%, prior to the implementation of reform laws aimed at reducing incarceration.

Even when convictions occur, the majority—66%—involve charges downgraded from felonies to misdemeanors or non-criminal violations. Additionally, the number of cases Bragg chose not to prosecute has nearly doubled, rising from 7% in 2022 to 12% in 2024. This approach is part of a broader strategy documented in internal directives to limit prison sentences, even for serious offenses like armed robbery and drug trafficking.

Data indicates misdemeanor conviction rates are also falling sharply, from 24% in 2022 to 17% in 2024. The refusal to prosecute misdemeanors has increased from 9% in 2022 to 31% in 2024, reflecting a more lenient prosecutorial stance.

Despite these changes, the Manhattan DA’s office has removed its public data dashboard—once praised as groundbreaking—from its website since October, making it difficult for the public to access real-time data on prosecutions. Critics argue this lack of transparency is strategic, especially with an upcoming re-election campaign, as officials claim the data is being reformatted for clearer presentation.

Legal experts criticize the approach, arguing that limiting prosecutions and obscuring data undermine transparency and public safety. Critics say such policies prioritize avoiding incarceration at the expense of effective crime deterrence and community safety.