Meet the District Attorney

District Attorney Daniel M. Donovan, Jr.

Daniel M. Donovan Jr. was sworn in as Richmond County District Attorney on January 1, 2004. A native Staten Islander with greater than 20 years of public service, Mr. Donovan has established a proven record of leadership and advocacy for the people of Staten Island.

As District Attorney, Dan Donovan has implemented innovative policies targeting crime on Staten Island. While leading the City of New York in felony conviction rate during his tenure, D.A. Donovan has launched efforts aimed at prosecuting drunk drivers, graffiti vandals and those who prey on senior citizens and children. He has implemented innovative policies targeting those who possess illegal guns or assault public servants in their line of duty, in addition to targeting domestic violence.

Under Mr. Donovan’s leadership, his office has: obtained the Borough’s first indictment, arrest and conviction as a result of the John Doe DNA Indictment Initiative aimed at prevent sex offenders from using the statute of limitations to escape prosecution, filed the second bias crime indictment in New York State for a crime against the elderly, and obtained the first felony conviction in the state under Stephanie’s Law – targeting video voyeurs. In 2004, the Staten Island District Attorney’s office also led the city in the conviction and incarceration of Megan’s Law violators. Fulfilling a commitment he made to the borough, Mr. Donovan has also established the borough’s first formal witness protection program.

Dan Donovan believes that the District Attorney, as the chief law enforcement official of the county, has an obligation to speak-out on areas where he believes the law does not adequately protect our citizens. To that end, Mr. Donovan has embarked on campaigns to support the enhancement of our existing laws. District Attorney Donovan has been an outspoken advocate for: stronger laws against sexual predators, drunk drivers and those who drive without a valid license as well as the removal of the statute of limitations for sexual assaults, the enhancement of existing laws against illegal guns, and the death penalty against “cop-killers” and other murderers.

In January of 2002, after six years as Chief of Staff to Borough President Guy V. Molinari, Mr. Donovan was appointed Deputy Borough President of Staten Island under Borough President James Molinaro. In his tenure in Borough Hall, Mr. Donovan was responsible for the development and implementation of various policies and programs benefiting the Staten Island community. Mr. Donovan developed a hands-on approach to governance that led to the realization of initiatives such as the closure of Fresh Kills Landfill, protecting public safety, and upgrading Staten Island’s quality of life through traffic improvements, litter and graffiti removal, and reduction of bias incidents. Mr. Donovan served as chairman of the Staten Island September 11th Memorial Advisory Committee, and as the Borough President's liaison to the Department of Education, the uniform services of New York City and the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management.

Prior to his appointment as Chief of Staff, Mr. Donovan served with distinction in the New York County District Attorney’s Office, appointed as Deputy Bureau Chief to the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, responsible for the supervision and training of Assistant District Attorneys. In his nearly eight years under Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morganthau, Mr. Donovan prosecuted major narcotics cases throughout the City, and served as senior trial counsel.

District Attorney Donovan earned his Juris Doctorate cum laude from Fordham University School of Law in 1988, where he was a member of the Fordham Law Review. Mr. Donovan received a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from St. John’s University in Staten Island.