Manhattan Starts Sexual Violence Unit Focused on Workplaces

New York City prosecutors are forming a special unit to encourage the reporting of and to investigate claims of sexual misconduct in the workplace, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said.

The Jan. 25 announcement of the launch of the office’s Work-Related Sexual Violence Team follows criticism of the Manhattan DA’s office for its handling of a model’s 2015 complaint alleging sexual assault by movie producer Harvey Weinstein. Vance called it the first such unit in the U.S. It will be staffed by 15 prosecutors and a social worker.