Risa Vetri Ferman is the elected District Attorney of Montgomery County, first earning her seat in November 2007 after working for 15 years in the trenches as a courtroom prosecutor. In 2007, Ferman was elected as the first female District Attorney in the history of Montgomery County. In 2011, she was re-elected for a second term.

Born in Philadelphia and raised in Abington Township, Risa is a lifelong resident of the community she serves. After graduating from Abington High School, Risa attended the University of Pennsylvania. After working for several years, she opted to return to school and began her studies in the evening program at Widener University School of Law where she earned a law degree in 1992.

Prior to her election, District Attorney Ferman earned a reputation as a tough prosecutor, taking on some of the most challenging cases in Montgomery County. She devoted herself to fighting for victims of crime and protecting the safety and security of the community. Beginning work as a prosecutor in 1993, Ferman quickly rose through the ranks to become Captain of the Sex Crimes Team. She has specialized in the prosecution of homicide, child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence cases. In 2002, Ferman was selected to serve as First Assistant District Attorney, the second in command to the entire District Attorney’s Office and County Detective Bureau. Ferman oversaw all homicide and wiretap investigations while maintaining a personal caseload of serious crimes she would prosecute herself.

District Attorney Ferman has dedicated her office to protecting our community’s most vulnerable citizens. She established the Elder Abuse Unit to target criminals who prey upon senior citizens. She was the driving force behind the creation of Mission Kids, a Child Advocacy Center, designed to ease the criminal justice process for victims of child abuse. She was also the co-founder of Montgomery County Child Advocacy Project (MCAP), which provides pro-bono legal services to abused and neglected children.