District Attorney Murphy is responsible for prosecuting all crime, including felonies, misdemeanors and violations in Saratoga County. He supervises the assistant district attorneys, represents the People of the State of New York in 44 justice courts across the County, and is Chief Law Enforcement Officer for 14 police agencies. His office prosecuted over 8,600 criminal cases last year and nearly 52,000 vehicle and traffic offenses in a county with a population of over 210,000 people. DA Murphy created and established the Domestic Violence Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Task Force, and the Crime Victims Advocacy Unit. He instituted the Sexual Assault Forensic Nurse Examiner Program to help victims of rape and sexual abuse. DA Murphy is also responsible for developing specialized prosecutorial units, including Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Violent Crime, DWI, White Collar Crime and Fraud.

DA Murphy first joined the Saratoga County DA's office in 1988 as an assistant district attorney, becoming First Assistant District Attorney in 1996. He then ran for the position of district attorney in 1997 and was sworn in on January 2, 1998 becoming one of the youngest DAs in New York State. He, subsequently, successfully ran for re-election in 2001 for a second four year term and in 2005 for a third four year term. In all he has served the people of the state of New York and Saratoga County for nearly 20 years as a prosecutor who balances punishment, deterrence, prevention, education and victims' rights all while ensuring that the interests of justice are served.

DA Murphy earned his undergraduate degree at Bates College and his juris doctor at the Faculty of Laws in London and Pace University School of Law and is a graduate of the FBI Citizen's Academy. He was honored by the United States Department of Justice for his outstanding service to crime victims. He has earned many awards including The Child Advocate of the Year award for his work in helping create a Child Advocacy Center (CAC) to treat, support and care for young victims of sexual abuse and assault. He chaired a campaign to raise millions of dollars to build, staff and sustain the CAC.

The District Attorney's Office has one of the highest conviction rates in New York State and ensures that violent felony offenders go to prison and are removed from our community. Equally important to the District Attorney is rehabilitation as well as intervention, education and diversion. DA Murphy works with many community based not-for-profit agencies to assist in prevention programs and to reduce risk to young and bolster protective factors in the community.

DA Murphy is a leader in establishing drug treatment courts for those charged with a certain felony or misdemeanor and who are addicted to controlled substances or alcohol. He has instituted these courts, along with the state's Road to Recovery program, for second, non violent felony offenders. These courts are designed to rehabilitate non violent participants and enable them to return to society, remaining clean and sober and making healthy choices. These courts are not available to those defendants who are dealers and profiting from the sale of narcotic drugs.

Specialized domestic violence prosecution courts established in the Cities of Saratoga Springs, Mechanicville and the town of Clifton Park have provided efficient prosecution of batterers and extra services for victims of domestic violence. These courts handle hundreds of cases each year and defendants serve longer sentences because of DA Murphy's focus on domestic violence prosecution.

He serves and has served on many Boards of Directors, including The State University of New York's Empire State College, Domestic Violence Services, the Prevention Council, and CAPTAIN,

The Leadership Saratoga Advisory Board, and Center for the Family. He is active in the New York State Bar Association and served on its Executive Committee for Criminal Justice. He is the past president of the Saratoga County Bar Association and on is Executive Board. He has been elected to serve as President Elect of the New York State District Attorney Attorneys' Association, an association representing the 62 District Attorneys in New York State. He serves on the Board of Directors of the New York State DAs' Association and is on the Executive Board of the New York Prosecutors' Training Institute.

Many awards have been received by the DA including the US Department of Justice, Spirit of Justice Award for outstanding work for crime victims; the Prevention Council's Distinguished Service Award for dedication to prevention and education initiatives; and the Center for the Family's Child Advocate of the Year Award for his work at the Center for the Family and for helping raise nearly 1.2 million dollars to establish it as a self sustaining facility to help children who have been sexually abused.

DA Murphy is also an Adjunct Professor at Albany Law School teaching courses in Criminal Trial Practice.

The Governor re-appointed him to serve on the Domestic Violence Task Force for New York State, Chaired by the Lieutenant Governor. The Governor also appointed him to the prestigious NYS Commission on Forensic Science which monitors forensic laboratory compliance with state accreditation standards.

He and his wife, Laurie, reside in Saratoga Springs with their two daughters.

DA Murphy currently serves on the advisory board for Jane Doe No More, Inc.

> Read DA Murphy's Expert View