• Ulster County Domestic Violence Court - As District Attorney, Don Williams has protected the right of women to a safe family life through his lead in creating a separate Domestic Violence Court in which victims of domestic violence can receive the assistance of law enforcement, crime victim’s assistance advocates and the judiciary in helping them navigate through the ordeal of a criminal case.  The ongoing work of this court has increased positive outcomes of these cases countywide and has both insisted on greater accountability for offenders and increased protection and safety for the family.

• Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner’s Unit (SANE) - Motivated by deep compassion for the victims of sexual assault, former District Attorney Williams administered a special unit created to ensure that victims of sexual assaults were treated in a compassionate manner during the examination that is necessary to prosecute rapes and other violent sexual assaults.  This group of dedicated nurse professionals, highly trained in forensic sciences, provides special medical and psychological care in the privacy of a separate unit of the Benedictine Hospital.  In 1999, Don Williams extended this innovative program to the care of children, ensuring that our youngest victims are treated with nurturing support in the wake of violence, thus beginning the healing process.  This widely acclaimed unit was the first of its kind in New York State and has served as a model for many others statewide.

• Ulster Regional Court - Another area in which Don Williams has left his mark is in his participation in creating Ulster’s first Drug Court.  Disillusioned with past practices of warehousing non violent offenders of illegal drug use, Williams helped form the Ulster Regional Drug Court.  This initiative gives non violent offenders the chance to help themselves by completing a program of 12 – 18 months of intensive monitoring and rehabilitation.  Upon graduating from this demanding course, the revolving door of criminal justice is shut and offenders get back on their feet, are reunited with their families and lead productive lives. The individual, criminal justice system and community all benefit from this highly successful and cost effective initiative.

• Underage Drinking Prevention Team - Since taking the position of D.A., Don has worked tirelessly with a team of dedicated professionals to combat the epidemic of underage drinking and the violence and other harm associated with it.  The Underage Drinking Prevention Team, (UDPT), is a group consisting of Don as D.A, John Miller of Stop DWI, school officials, mental health care professionals, police, tavern owners and other concerned specialists. This team creates a forum where the volatile issue of underage drinking, and the frequently tragic accidents associated with it, can be understood and strategically addressed from multiple vantage points. This team is proactive; it has succeeded in passing legislation regarding keg registration.  In 2007, the UDTP’s efforts were enhanced by the Ulster County Legislature’s passing of a local law proposed by then D.A. Williams to discourage parental hosting of illegal underage drinking

• Sexual Offender Management - Perhaps nowhere does former District Attorney Williams’ deep care for the welfare of our county’s families and children appear more clearly than in his unrelenting vigilance and proactive management of sexual offenders.  As D.A., Williams and his Office prosecuted sexual offenders with zeal, refusing to plea bargain in all but the most compelling cases.  At the same time he has been the fire behind legislation preventing these previous offenders from ever living near schools or vulnerable populations, has joined Robert Sudlow and the U.C. Dept of Probation in implementing a statewide GPS tracking program of such offenders, increased penalties for Sexual Offender Registration Act (SORA) violators, and has streamlined documentation of these cases statewide for efficiency and consistency of results. The families and children of Ulster County, and of NY State, are inarguably safer and better protected through the results of Don’s work.

• Operation Impact & Urgent - Additional initiatives such as the Operation Impact and U.C. Sheriff Paul VanBlarcum’s Ulster Regional Gang and Drug Enforcement Team (URGENT), which reduces violent crime through enhanced crime fighting strategies, mapping, undercover operations, and cooperation between local, state and federal forces in targeted areas, also demonstrate former District Attorney Williams commitment to do justice in the County of his birth.

During a proven record of 30 years experience in Ulster County Court and as a leader in our community, Donald Williams has shown the courage and ability to create and implement innovative and effective initiatives.  These initiatives themselves speak eloquently to Don’s long heartfelt passion and dedication to the well being of all of our county’s residents.