PENNSYLVANIA DISTRICT ATTORNEYS INSTITUTE ELECTS NEW OFFICERS
Harrisburg, PA -The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute (PDAI) announced today that Somerset County District Attorney Jerry Spangler was elected to a second term as president of this educational and training arm of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association for the business year 2008-2009.
The new officers and board of directors are:
| President: | Hon. Jerry Spangler, Somerset County District Attorney |
| Vice President: | Hon. James M. Martin, Lehigh County District Attorney |
| Secretary-Treasurer | Hon. Bradley H. Foulk, Erie County District Attorney |
| Board of Directors | Lynne M. Abraham, Philadelphia District Attorney |
| Scott J. Andreassi, Armstrong District Attorney | |
| Dave Arnold, Lebanon County District Attorney | |
| Risa Ferman, Montgomery County District Attorney | |
| Edward M. Marsico, Jr., Dauphin County District Attorney | |
| H. Stanley Rebert, York County District Attorney | |
| George P. Skumanick, Jr., Wyoming County District Attorney | |
| Stephen A. Zappala, Jr., Allegheny County District Attorney | |
| Education & Training Chairman: | David J. Freed, Cumberland County District Attorney |
“As district attorneys, we are held to the highest standards of professional conduct,” said Spangler. “A thorough understanding of substantive and procedural law and rules governing professional conduct is essential to do our jobs right. Through the Institute and its courses, we seek to create a network of trained professionals committed to helping every prosecutor uphold our commitment to safe communities, victims’ rights, and always, most importantly, truth in justice.”
PDAI, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the education and training affiliate of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association based in Harrisburg, PA. Since its inception, the Institute has trained over 2,000 assistant district attorneys in its basic prosecutors’ course and held a district attorney seminar for newly elected and appointed DAs every other year. The Institute also conducts training courses for law enforcement officers and victim service professionals.
In addition to training, the PDAI is currently working with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to implement a new statewide automated victim notification service. Known as PA SAVIN, the enhancement to local victim services will help empower crime victims and interested citizens with the ability to receive an around-the-clock, automated phone call notifying them of a release, transfer or escape.