ADA Unit Supervisor

Lancaster County•Lancaster, PA

About The Position

The ADA Unit Supervisor is an Assistant District Attorney responsible for supervising the Domestic Violence Victims Unit and overseeing prosecution of misdemeanor and felony domestic violence cases and Indirect Criminal Contempt prosecutions involving protection-from-abuse cases. The approximate annual caseload for the unit is 500 domestic violence/criminal cases and 250 domestic violence/PFA violation cases. The supervisor assigns cases, actively monitors them, supervises unit personnel, ensures compliance with unit protocols, and gives special consideration to victim rights and the sensitive nature of these cases. The supervisor reports unit case status and significant issues to the First Assistant District Attorney and maintains a personal caseload. Responsibilities include reviewing investigations; consulting with and interviewing victims; handling preliminary hearings, bail hearings, pretrial matters, plea negotiations, trials, post-trial matters, and appeals; and considering victim-impact information and relevant histories of abuse. The role coordinates case preparation and disposition with victims, witnesses, police, legal advocates, probation officers, and civil attorneys, while staying aware of related family-law proceedings and their potential impact on criminal cases. The position provides local law-enforcement training on county domestic-violence response protocols, court procedures, and legal updates; reviews prosecution techniques and procedures nationwide; and recommends local procedures for the District Attorney’s consideration. It also coordinates the Lancaster County STOP Violence Against Women Project grant, including applications, data collection, annual reporting, and liaison work with PCCD. The supervisor serves on specified county committees and ensures scheduled domestic-violence and intimate-partner matters are appropriately staffed. The role supervises Special Victims Unit personnel, including Assistant District Attorneys, and works closely with paralegals, victim/witness advocates, and a county detective. The position reports to the First Assistant District Attorney, with oversight by the District Attorney. The work is primarily sedentary, but extended hours may be required during trials or major investigations.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate.
Admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
Background check.
Expertise in Pennsylvania criminal prosecutions, particularly domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.
Ability to provide effective training to law-enforcement personnel on these issues.
Ability to direct a major criminal investigation.
Ability to work with law enforcement, other government agencies, and private victim-service agencies.

Responsibilities

Supervise Domestic Violence Victims Unit personnel and administer unit cases, including case assignment, monitoring, plea-negotiation advice and approvals, and merit reviews.
Oversee prosecution of misdemeanor and felony domestic violence cases and Indirect Criminal Contempt prosecutions related to protection-from-abuse cases.
Prosecute a personal caseload, including investigation review and consultation; victim interviews; preliminary hearings; bail hearings; pretrial matters; plea negotiations; trials; and post-trial and appellate matters.
Prosecute cases including PFA violations, assault, stalking, burglary, and homicide.
Consider victim-impact information and relevant histories of a defendant’s abuse toward other victims.
Coordinate case preparation and disposition with victims, witnesses, police officers, legal advocates, probation officers, and civil attorneys.
Monitor related family-law proceedings and assess their possible impact on criminal prosecutions.
Provide local training for municipal and PSP law-enforcement agencies on county domestic-violence police response protocols, local court procedure, and legal updates.
Review nationwide domestic-violence prosecution techniques and procedures and recommend procedures for local implementation.
Coordinate the Lancaster County STOP Violence Against Women Project grant, including the PCCD application, statistical data collection, annual program reporting, and liaison duties.
Serve on the STOP Grant Coordinating Team, Judicial PFA Coordinating Team, and Lancaster County Children’s Alliance Advisory Committee.
Ensure scheduled DV/IP matters, including DV Central Court/PFA-ICC Court, specially scheduled SBI felony preliminary hearings, after-hours on-call matters, and criminal trials, are appropriately staffed.
Present guilty plea lists and sentencings to court; present parole-violation hearings; represent the office in bench warrant court.
Answer questions from and advise police officers and less experienced prosecutors on cases and law.
Respond to crime scenes to assist investigations as needed and act as Duty DA on a rotating on-call basis.
Draft appellate briefs and provide police training when requested by the District Attorney.
Perform other duties as assigned.