SAFETY & JUSTICE

By directly investigating select criminal activity, we’re being proactive about making a safer, fairer Philadelphia.  

After a crime is committed, the criminal justice process starts with an investigation to figure out who did what, when, and with what intent. In most cases, the investigation stage is handled by the Philadelphia Police Department, with our team of prosecutors providing support where necessary. 

But there are certain cases when the District Attorney’s Office not only prosecutes crimes brought to us by the PPD, but takes the lead in the  investigation, seeking to uncover crimes, gather evidence and build cases against those we identify as responsible.  

The total number of crimes we investigate this way may be small compared to the workload of the PPD, but the cases we focus on are important, often complex and far-reaching. Solving them has big impacts on the safety, well-being and the quality of life for our entire region.

And since the crimes we investigate often involve ongoing criminal activity that preys on the poor and the powerless in our society, combating these kinds of cases can make a real difference in promoting equity and helping people escape poverty. 

It’s why they’re such a priority for this office.