Special Victims Unit and Survivor-Centered Prosecution
Summary
Sheriff Derek Osborne pitched a countywide Special Victims Unit — a lieutenant, five investigators, a forensic evidence investigator, a dedicated prosecutor and an embedded victim advocate — to specialize in sexual assault and child abuse cases. It's only a proposal for now; funding, agreements with other agencies, and a formal planning process all come next.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 3
- Last 30 days
- 3
Discussed at 2 meetings in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 27, 2026.
Impact analysis
Not yet determined — the Sheriff said resources to establish and sustain the unit still must be identified.
Victims of sexual assault and child abuse countywide, plus smaller agencies that lack specialized investigators.
Mentions & discussions (2)
Public Safety Committee - Regular Meeting — October 27, 2026
A resident urged the committee to pair the sheriff's planned Special Victims Unit for sex offenses and crimes against children with a complementary plan in the District Attorney's office — specialized prosecution, trauma-informed communication, and success measures beyond conviction counts.
Tompkins County Legislature - Regular Meeting — October 20, 2026
Sheriff Derek Osborne pitched a countywide Special Victims Unit — a lieutenant, five investigators, a forensic evidence investigator, a dedicated prosecutor and an embedded victim advocate — to specialize in sexual assault and child abuse cases. It's only a proposal for now; funding, agreements with other agencies, and a formal planning process all come next.
We'll email you when it's on an upcoming agenda and when it's voted on, at most once a day.
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