Animal Law Guild Conference 2014
Government Trailblazers
Government Trailblazers
Deborah Knaan, Deputy District Attorney and Supervisor, Animal Cruelty Division at Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
Deborah Knaan has been a Deputy District Attorney since 1996. Her assignments have included prosecuting hardcore gang crimes and sexual assaults and child molestation.
In 2004 Ms. Knaan was appointed to the Los Angeles City Board of Commissioners for the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services by Mayor Jim Hahn. As a commissioner, Ms. Knaan was responsible for overseeing and setting policy for the Department of Animal Services, hearing appeals in cases involving issues that pertained to animals and public safety, drafting and approving local ordinances, and reviewing city contracts.
In 2006 Ms. Knaan was given a leave of absence from the District Attorney’s Office to serve as Assistant General Manager of Operations for the Department of Animal Services. In that position Ms. Knaan oversaw the day-to-day operations of the six City-run animal shelters and supervised the field officers who were responsible for enforcing various animal related offenses and investigating incidents of animal cruelty.
In 2007 Ms. Knaan returned to the District Attorney’s Office to create and head up the office’s first animal cruelty prosecution program, the only one of its kind in the country. There are currently 31 specially trained prosecutors assigned to prosecute animal abuse cases. As the District Attorney’s Office’s Animal Cruelty Case Coordinator, Ms. Knaan is responsible for overseeing the prosecution of all felony animal cruelty cases within the County of Los Angeles. Ms. Knaan regularly trains prosecutors and animal control and law enforcement agencies on how to investigate, file, and prosecute cases in which animals have been mistreated. She is frequently invited to speak at professional conferences, and to agencies and groups that play a critical role in recognizing, reporting, or investigating animal cruelty cases.
During her tenure as Animal Cruelty Case Coordinator Ms. Knaan has devised and implemented many programs, including a dog fighting tip line, a court-ordered curriculum for defendants convicted of animal neglect, and a public awareness campaign that warns members of the public of the dangers (and illegality) of leaving animals in hot vehicles. Ms. Knaan has also authored legislation that strengthens protections afforded to animals under the law.
Deborah Knaan has been a Deputy District Attorney since 1996. Her assignments have included prosecuting hardcore gang crimes and sexual assaults and child molestation.
In 2004 Ms. Knaan was appointed to the Los Angeles City Board of Commissioners for the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services by Mayor Jim Hahn. As a commissioner, Ms. Knaan was responsible for overseeing and setting policy for the Department of Animal Services, hearing appeals in cases involving issues that pertained to animals and public safety, drafting and approving local ordinances, and reviewing city contracts.
In 2006 Ms. Knaan was given a leave of absence from the District Attorney’s Office to serve as Assistant General Manager of Operations for the Department of Animal Services. In that position Ms. Knaan oversaw the day-to-day operations of the six City-run animal shelters and supervised the field officers who were responsible for enforcing various animal related offenses and investigating incidents of animal cruelty.
In 2007 Ms. Knaan returned to the District Attorney’s Office to create and head up the office’s first animal cruelty prosecution program, the only one of its kind in the country. There are currently 31 specially trained prosecutors assigned to prosecute animal abuse cases. As the District Attorney’s Office’s Animal Cruelty Case Coordinator, Ms. Knaan is responsible for overseeing the prosecution of all felony animal cruelty cases within the County of Los Angeles. Ms. Knaan regularly trains prosecutors and animal control and law enforcement agencies on how to investigate, file, and prosecute cases in which animals have been mistreated. She is frequently invited to speak at professional conferences, and to agencies and groups that play a critical role in recognizing, reporting, or investigating animal cruelty cases.
During her tenure as Animal Cruelty Case Coordinator Ms. Knaan has devised and implemented many programs, including a dog fighting tip line, a court-ordered curriculum for defendants convicted of animal neglect, and a public awareness campaign that warns members of the public of the dangers (and illegality) of leaving animals in hot vehicles. Ms. Knaan has also authored legislation that strengthens protections afforded to animals under the law.
Jason Insalaco, Attorney at Law & District Director, Assemblyman Mike Gatto
Jason Insalaco is the District Director for Assemblyman Mike Gatto of the 43rd District. Prior to working in politics, Jason served as an executive with CBS Radio, CBS Television and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. Jason’s legal experience includes negotiating talent deals and drafting agreements for both talent and media companies. He also has extensive intellectual property experience that includes the discovery of a long-lost film by famed director, Edward D. Wood, Jr. Jason obtained a B.A. from Boston College and a J.D. from Loyola Law School.
Jason Insalaco is the District Director for Assemblyman Mike Gatto of the 43rd District. Prior to working in politics, Jason served as an executive with CBS Radio, CBS Television and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. Jason’s legal experience includes negotiating talent deals and drafting agreements for both talent and media companies. He also has extensive intellectual property experience that includes the discovery of a long-lost film by famed director, Edward D. Wood, Jr. Jason obtained a B.A. from Boston College and a J.D. from Loyola Law School.
Tannaz Kouhpainezhad, Deputy Attorney General at California Department of
Justice