Steve Lungen (born circa 1946[1]) is a former Republican District Attorney of Sullivan County, New York.

In February 2009, Lungen announced that he was retiring after 28 years as District Attorney.[1]

In 1989, Lungen ran for re-election against now-Judge Frank Labuda.[1] At that time, his office had the highest conviction rate and the lowest plea-bargain rate in upstate New York.[2]

In 2003, Lungen co-founded the Sullivan County Drug Treatment Court,[3] where people arrested for drug related offenses get treatment and probation instead of jail sentences.[4] In Sullivan County, defendants charged with a drug-selling offense were ineligible for drug court.[4] Two exceptions were made for 17-year-olds with drug addictions.[4]

When announcing his retirement, Lungen did not foreclose working in the public arena, saying that he loves work and may seek a judgeship or enter private practice.[1] At the same time, he said he was endorsing then Assistant District Attorney, Jim Farrell, to take over his position.[1]

Lungen was reputed to be an aggressive district attorney.[2] Police officers would attempt to apprehend suspects over the Sullivan County border so that they be prosecuted by Lungen.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Bosch, Adam (February 12, 2009), "Lungen Retires, Backs Farrell", Times Herald-Record, retrieved December 1, 2009
  2. 1 2 3 Levine, Mike (September 1, 1989), "Issues, Shmissues: Politics is a Sales Game", Times Herald-Record, retrieved December 12, 2009
  3. ↑ Whitman, Victor (December 2, 2009), "Broken souls made whole; Drug court gives addicts second chance", Times Herald-Record, retrieved 2009-12-12
  4. 1 2 3 Mackson, Oliver (2006-03-19), "One problem, two views; Drug court has become part of the solution to drug crime", Times Herald-Record, retrieved 2009-12-12
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