Our job is to make Philadelphia safer and more just for all who live and work here.
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office makes decisions every day about who to prosecute, what charges to bring, and what punishments are appropriate. . All of which influences how our city’s larger criminal justice system deploys its limited assets: a police officer’s time, court resources, investigative tools, and even jail cells.
We know the decisions we make today will impact the safety of our city, the rights of our fellow citizens, and the well-being of the neighborhoods and communities we serve for years if not generations to come. A community-centered approach to justice requires us to consider long-term consequences of our actions. For too long, our city has suffered from decades of discriminatory policing and overincarceration, with our communities of color bearing the brunt.
Instead of playing into reactionary politics, we carefully examine the data on what’s working in the criminal justice system and what isn’t. We have criminologists and policymakers on staff researching the best new thinking on criminal justice and law enforcement from here and around the country.
MORE RESOURCESQuick Links
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Frequently Asked Questions
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A quick guide to the Philadelphia Criminal Justice System
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Victim & Witness Services
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Full portfolio of diversion programs
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Resources for domestic violence victims
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Economic & Property Crimes Unit Fraud Line: 215-686-9902; [email protected]
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Are you an immigrant and a victim of crime? Email us to get help with your U and T visa applications.
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Report corruption or misconduct: 215-686-9646
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Request a Conviction Integrity Review
CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS
Empowerment starts with understanding the system.
While each criminal case is different, most follow a common path. Our Victim & Witness Coordinators can help guide you and your family through every step.
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CHARGING UNIT
Getting the right outcome starts at the beginning: defining the crime.
The Assistant District Attorneys in the Charging Unit promptly review all sight arrests and arrest warrants and determine which charges our office will prosecute.
MUNICIPAL COURT UNIT
The prosecutors in our Municipal Court Unit handle the majority of cases in Philadelphia.
Our Municipal Court Unit prosecutors are responsible for handling misdemeanor cases and most felony preliminary hearings.
PRE-TRIAL UNIT
We strive to resolve felony cases to ensure outcomes that are in the public’s best interest.
Prosecutors in our Pre-Trial Unit handle felony cases after preliminary hearings, making plea offers and diversion decisions to dispose of cases as early and as fairly as possible.
“We make sure that prosecutorial discretion is not affected by personal bias, racism and classism and that the victims’ injuries are also taken into account.”
LIAM RILEY
Supervisor
Major Trials Unit
“Increased transparency leads to lots more litigation. As a result, we now have 10,000 Post Conviction Relief Act petitions pending and it is our intent to get to all of them.”
NANCY WINKELMAN
Supervisor
Law Division