page_title: Risa Vetri Ferman
section_title: Service as District Attorney
hierarchical_section_title: Risa Vetri Ferman / Service as District Attorney
caption_attribution_description: English: Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman talks with students at a lunch table at Eisenhower Science and Technology Leadership Academy Thursday March 6, 2014. Students participated in an Eatiquette program during their lunch break at the Norristown school. The program, sponsored by the Vetri Foundation, exposes the students to new foods and emphasizes etiquette. Ferman is a former board member of the Vetri Foundation. Photo by Gene Walsh / Times Herald Staff
context_page_description: Risa Vetri Ferman is judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Montgomery County, and was formerly District Attorney of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Before winning election as the county's prosecutor, Ferman worked for 15 years in the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. In November 2007, she became the first woman elected District Attorney in Montgomery County. In 2011, Ferman won re-election and began her second term as District Attorney in January 2012. She is the daughter of Barbara and Sal Vetri, and sister of restaurateur Marc Vetri and television director and producer Adam Vetri.
context_section_description: In 2008, Ferman established an Elder Abuse Unit and Taskforce to support seniors targeted by criminals. Ferman supervises the Elder Abuse Task Force, a multifaceted force of law enforcement agencies as well as the county's Aging and Adult Services. Ferman established the Elder Justice Roundtable in 2013 after further development with the Elder Abuse Unit and Taskforce.
  In 2009, Ferman co-founded the Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Mission Kids is a 501(c)(3) corporation, founded through a collaborative effort with the Police Chiefs of Association of Montgomery County, and the Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth. Ferman is a member of the Mission Kids Executive Board (as Past President)
  Ferman is co-founder of the Montgomery County Child Advocacy Program (MCAP) as a board member. MCAP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides free legal representation to children who are victims of abuse in Montgomery County. Ferman introduced the School Safety Committee as a primary source for County schools regarding safety. The committee consists of a variety of individual units such as school superintendents, public safety officials and law enforcement personnel. Ferman is an avid supporter of the Montgomery County Youth Aid Panel Program (YAP), a restorative justice initiative for juveniles in the criminal justice system. Ferman created the Teen Driving Safety Program which includes a Teen Driving Safety Documentary, through partnership with the WPVI Channel 6 ABC and a corresponding Teen Driving Safety Curriculum
  In 2012, Ferman convened Montgomery County’s first Cyber Bullying and Bullying Task Force. Come 2013, Ferman, along with Montgomery County Commission Chair Josh Shapiro, former Montgomery County Sheriff Eileen Behr, Montgomery County Schools and Intermediate Unit, and the Police Chiefs Association of Montgomery County, announced the creation and release of the first Cyber Bullying/Bullying Taskforce Manual in the country
  Ferman and Montgomery County Chief Public Defender Keir Bradford-Grey coordinated their efforts to protect youths in Montgomery County through a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters in Southeastern, Pennsylvania to create the "Back on Track program
  In 2014, Ferman and Montgomery County Sheriff Russell Bono brought the Teen Suicide Prevention Program to Montgomery County in collaboration with John Halligan, Founder of Ryan’s Story.
  Ferman established the Detectives Violent Crime Unit to assist in investigations regarding brutal crime. She encourages the use of the District Attorney’s Office DUI and Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for first time, non-violent offenders to highlight rehabilitative services.
  In addition, Ferman supports diversionary programs within Montgomery County such as Veteran’s Treatment Court, Drug Treatment Court and Behavioral Health Court.
  In April 2013, Ferman established the Montgomery County Prescription Drug Disposal Program which places safe receptacles for the public to safely dispose of their old or unwanted prescription drugs. Ferman spread awareness about Teen Prescription Drug Abuse through her involvement with the McIntyre Family and the death of their son Ronald "Ronnie" Powell III as a result of prescription drug overdose.
  The District Attorney's Office has maintained a 98% conviction rate.
  In October 2014, Ferman brought the Courthouse Comfort Dog Program to the Montgomery County Courthouse with the addition of "K9 Turks" to serve victims and witnesses through distressing situations in the courthouse.
  In July 2015, Ferman was elected as the first female President of the Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Association (PDAA). She is chair of the PDAA Best Practice Committee and a member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA). She is a member of the Joint State Government Commissions Advisory Committee on Wrongful Convictions.
  Ferman was nominated to Chair of the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2010, and began as a member in 2
caption: District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman talks with students at a lunch table at Eisenhower Science and Technology Leadership Academy
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