Some of the members of the District Attorney’s Office
Meeting of the Criminal Justice Advisory Board
From Mike Mancuso, District Attorney:
It has been an exciting action filled year at the DA’s Office. From putting away violent criminals to creating innovative measures designed to protect the community, reduce recidivism, and break the cycles of continuing criminal behavior. There is much to share with the public.
Background: Based on an 1850 Pennsylvania law, the first District Attorney of Monroe County was elected in 1853. On January 2, 2024 I was sworn in as the twenty fifth (25) District Attorney of Monroe County. I replaced my friend Dave Christine who continues with the office on a part-time basis to help mentor young prosecutors.
Monroe County is presently at a population of about 170,000.00 residents. The county is classified as a County of the 4th Class based on its current census. Monroe is among the most diverse on the basis of race/ethnicity than the vast majority of Pennsylvania Counties.
Unfortunately, Monroe has the highest crime rate of all 4th class counties in Pennsylvania. In fact, our caseload equals or exceeds bigger counties such as Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Lehigh Counties.
Our Detectives are among the busiest in the area filing more criminal complaints than most detective divisions in the NEPA.
The Monroe County Office of the District Attorney is currently staffed by seventeen prosecutors, ten secretaries, an office manager, five victim witness advocates, a trial director, and ten full-time county detectives serving the community, four municipal police departments, one state university police department, and three state police barracks.
The Monroe County Office of District Attorney serves our community by the efficient and fair prosecution of criminal offenders, conducting criminal investigations, assisting local police departments with investigations, offering assistance and support to victims of crime, and participating in anti-crime and quality-of-life initiatives.
One of the themes you will see is collaboration. We have continued to work closely and productively with state and local police. These include the dedicated men and women of Stroud Area Regional Police Department, the Pocono Township Police Department, the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police Stroudsburg, Lehighton, and Fern Ridge Barracks, and the East Stroudsburg University Police.
2024 also saw much more collaboration with other agencies and offices of the county. For example, there has never been such a close working relationship between the District Attorney’s Office and our Commissioners John Christy, Sharon Laverdure, and Dave Parker. They recognize the serious needs and challenges facing the county, and have stepped up to the plate working with me to apply for and win a variety of competitive state and federal grants. These grants are bringing resources into the county on a scale never heard of before. These grants cover both the 2024 year and 2025.
Here’s a breakdown of the grants I have sought and won with the help of the county and the fine efforts of Kwanza Smith, the County’s Grants Manager.
2024 Grants
FY 24 Congressman Cartwright Community Project Funding/Monroe County’s Safety First Network 03-9/24 – 02/28/26 $1,009,000, This provides funding for emergency radio and telecommunications upgrades and technological improvements to provide for better emergency responses throughout the county. Multiple law enforcement and related first responder agencies are benefitting from these funds.
2023 Violence Intervention Prevention (VIP) Community Partnership for Gun Violence/ 4/1/24 – 3/31/27 – $695,286. This is a first of its kind grant in the state. A unique local study into gun violence in Monroe. More information will be presented later.
State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) Crisis Intervention Coordinator 04/1/24 – 3/31/26 – $200,000. Edward Byrne Memorial Justice – Local Solicitation (JAG) Crisis Intervention Team 10/1/22 – 09/30/24 $20,957. These are part of an initiative to form a co-response model between law enforcement and mental health professionals for mental health related emergency calls for service.
Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim 1&2 Services 10/1/24 – 09/30/25 – $149,408. RASA/VOJO 23/24 1/1/25 – 12/31/25 – $156,160. These help fund our office’s victim services to carry out the provisions of Pennsylvania law dealing with victim’s rights.
Grants applied for in 2024 to be delivered in 2025
Monroe County STOP Violence Against Women GRANT (DA’s Office/Victim Services) 1/1/25 – 12/31/2027 – $375,000 3 years. This has allowed for the addition to the Office of three (3) new positions. They are an additional Victim Advocate, a Detective, and an Assistant District Attorney all focusing efforts on the scourge of domestic violence in the county. One of the big three threats facing our community.
FY 25 Congressman Cartwright/Congresswoman Wild/Community Project Funding/Opioid Crimes Section of DAO Date TBD – $2.1 Million. This is a grant I sought which will allow the creation of a full time drug task force encompassing a range of law enforcement efforts from the interdiction of large scale narcotics traffickers to individualized treatment diversions for low scale non violent offenders.
Total $4,330,011.00