The
Prosecuting Attorney is the chief legal advisor and attorney for Montgomery
County. The responsibilities of the County Prosecutor include the
prosecution of persons charged with felony offenses, providing legal advice
and counsel to all county elected officials and county departments, handling
legal proceedings involving juveniles who violate the law, researching,
drafting and arguing all appeals of criminal and civil cases emanating from
Montgomery County, and representing township trustees.
The
primary function of the Prosecuting Attorney is to prosecute felony criminal
cases in the county. The Criminal Division handles cases before the Grand
Jury, Preliminary Hearings in Municipal and County Courts, hearings in
Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme
Courts of Ohio and the United States. Prosecutors are also assigned to the
County Courts and have jurisdiction in designated areas of the
unincorporated townships.
Victims
and witnesses receive support and counseling throughout the investigation
and prosecution of their case through the efforts of the Victim Witness
Division. Beginning in 1990, this division provided a coordinator for the
Violence Prevention Project. Support groups for family and friends of
homicide victims help these individuals cope with their loss. In order to
provide twenty-four hour, seven day service, a staff of 12 Victim Advocates
are assisted by a network of over forty active volunteers.
The
Family Violence Unit provides assistance to both police and prosecutors in
their efforts to reduce and eliminate all forms of family violence in our
community. The Family Violence Unit serves as a training and investigative
resource for law enforcement and tracks incidents of family violence.
Efforts
to reduce child homicide and abuse are enhanced through the Child Abuse
Bureau, a team of assistant prosecutors and victim advocates working with
law enforcement and child welfare workers at the Care House. This team
approach is designed to facilitate and improve the investigation and
prosecution of these serious crimes. The Child Protection Unit of the
Prosecutor’s Office takes legal action in Juvenile Court to remove abused
and neglected children from their homes and to insure their safe placement.
Complex
fraud cases known as white-collar crimes are investigated and prosecuted by
the Fraud and Economic Crimes Division. An important function of this
division is the coordination of local consumer, business and law enforcement
agencies, and the sharing of its legal expertise with these groups.
Restitution for crime victims is collected from first time, non-violent
offenders through the Diversion Division. This division diverts very low
risk, first time adult offenders accused of non-violent crimes from the
criminal justice system. Individuals qualifying for this program are placed
under supervision and their behavior is monitored. They are required to
make restitution, complete community service, and stay out of trouble.
