Gonzalez, who leads one of the nation’s largest prosecutors’ offices, is a lifelong Brooklyn resident.
“I grew up in Williamsburg and East New York in a traditional Puerto Rican family,” Gonzalez said. “East New York, in particular, was rough in the ’80s and ’90s with the rise of the crack cocaine epidemic. At the time I was living there, it was considered to be the homicide capital of this great city we lived in, but I always imagined a better life for myself. I wanted to help people.”
Gonzalez’s family worked as farmers in Puerto Rico. As a boy, he told his grandmother he was considering becoming a lawyer, to which she responded, “Oh, we don’t do that.”
He was the first in his family to graduate from high school and college. Neither of his parents graduated high school.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. Photo: Mario Belluomo/Brooklyn EagleEarly inspiration
According to Gonzalez, one of the turning points in his life was when he read “The Bonfire of the Vanities” as a teenager. The satirical novel, set in 1980s New York City, explores greed, ambition, social class, racial tensions and the criminal justice system. A central part of the story revolves around the Bronx District Attorney’s Office and how a criminal case becomes entangled with politics.
“That book is really responsible for making me a prosecutor,” Gonzalez said. “I discovered that there is a person called the district attorney who gets to decide who gets second chances and who goes to prison. I said, ‘Wow, that’s an incredible power. Let me learn about that.’ So I took classes focusing on the justice system, government, politics, and ultimately, I went to law school.”
Gonzalez began his legal career in the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office in 1995, after earning a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a juris doctor from the University of Michigan Law School.
“I’ve always imagined myself entering this field to pursue justice,” Gonzalez said. “I wanted to help keep communities safe while ensuring that everyone is treated with fundamental fairness. My belief is that people are not inherently bad. Mostly, it’s about a lack of opportunity and resources.”
Gonzalez said his administration is trying to reduce both crime and incarceration. “We sent less people to jail than ever before,” he said. “We give more people opportunities for alternatives to incarceration, such as various types of rehabilitation.”
The homicide rate has dropped 38% and shootings 40% since Gonzalez took office almost 10 years ago. In 2025, Brooklyn saw the lowest levels of violent crime. “That momentum is continuing this year,” he said.
Hon. Patrick Hayes Torres. Photo: Mario Belluomo/Brooklyn Eagle
As district attorney, Gonzalez recently helped launch Project Restore, a pilot community intervention initiative aimed at reducing gang-related violence in various Brooklyn neighborhoods. The 12‑month program targets men aged 18 to 30 and focuses on holistic support including mentorship, skills building and community engagement.
Gonzalez named former District Attorney Kenneth Thompson as one of his mentors. Thompson was the first African American district attorney of Kings County, serving from January 2014 until his death from cancer in 2016.
Gonzalez was chief assistant district attorney under Thompson, helping him launch the office’s nationally recognized Conviction Review Unit. Gonzalez succeeded Thompson after he passed away.
In the closing moments of the event, Gonzalez was asked which qualities he believes are essential for young attorneys pursuing careers.
“I only ask a few things of young law students,” Gonzalez said. “Firstly, they must be committed to serve. Secondly, I tell them that no case is more important than their own ethics and values, and their reputation is the most important attribute that they bring to the table.”