Crime Victims’ Assistance
The Crime Victims’ Assistance Unit functions to guide victims through the criminal justice process, to ensure victims’ rights are honored, and to assist victims in obtaining services to help them cope with the trauma they have suffered. Through the efforts of a dedicated team of Victim Advocates, the Victims’ Assistance Unit provides comprehensive services to victims of all types of crime.For more information click here.
Elder Abuse
A designated prosecutor within the Sexual Assault Family Protection Unit works with law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute crimes perpetrated against elders in our communities. These crimes may include physical and emotional abuse, neglect, identity theft, and financial abuse. The unit focuses on elderly victims of crime, which by statute is defined as someone 65 years of age or older, so as to accommodate their needs and concerns. The assigned deputy district attorney works closely with Adult Protective Services, Area Agency on Aging, police departments and senior community groups to raise awareness of crimes against elders and assist in the recognition, investigation and prosecution of offenders. This attorney also presents to local senior groups to raise awareness of these crimes and address related issues that may affect elders in our community.
Weapons Forfeiture
When people are taken to the hospital because they pose a danger to themselves or others, their constitutional right to bear arms is restricted for five years. Any weapon in their possession may be seized by law enforcement and destroyed unless a petitioner convinces the court a weapon may safely be returned to its owner. Such hearings are routinely held after a hospitalization to determine if such people can safely possess firearms.
Narcotics
The Narcotics Unit takes an aggressive and proactive stance towards drug trafficking in Ventura County and the surrounding areas. A wide range of cases involving methamphetamine labs, street-level drug dealing and high-level drug trafficking organizations involving multiple pound quantities of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine are handled by the vertical prosecution Narcotics Unit. These prosecutors work closely with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies during complex multi-level narcotics investigations that utilize confidential informants, search warrants and court authorized wiretaps. These investigations lead to the prosecution of narcotics traffickers for manufacturing, sales and possession for sales of controlled substances, as well as conspiracy and money laundering. The Narcotics Unit is also responsible for reviewing, filing and prosecuting cases involving drug-endangered children, prescription drug diversion and vice crimes including human trafficking, pimping, pandering and prostitution.
Homicides
Murders, cold-case homicides and similar unlawful killings are prosecuted by the Major Crimes Unit. Cases prosecuted by this unit involve some of the most heinous crimes committed within Ventura County and often entail substantial follow-up investigation, trial preparation, and the use of cutting edge forensic DNA analysis and evidence. In addition, other special interest crimes are also assigned to the unit when it is determined that the complexity of the case requires the experience of a major crimes attorney. The Major Crimes Unit’s prosecutors also respond to 24-hour a day on-call requests from law enforcement seeking legal assistance with search warrants, crime scene evaluation, and officer-involved shooting matters. Other duties of prosecutors in the Major Crimes Unit include law enforcement training, assisting in selected special investigations, and appearing at California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation parole hearings.
General Felonies
Most felony cases submitted by law enforcement agencies to the District Attorney’s Office are handled by the General Felony Unit. Seasoned attorneys within the unit are primarily responsible for reviewing and filing these cases. Once felony charges are filed, defendants are arraigned in court and bail is set. In cases that do not resolve at an early stage, prosecutors present evidence at preliminary hearings to establish there is probable cause to hold charged defendants to answer at jury trial. Cases are reevaluated to determine the appropriateness of all charges and then assigned to attorneys for trial. All cases involving serious or violent crimes are prosecuted vertically, meaning these cases are assigned to more experienced deputy district attorneys for all purposes once charges are filed. Cases involving auto theft are also handled by a dedicated prosecutor from review through sentencing. This attorney works in partnership with the Ventura County Auto Theft…
Gangs
Crimes committed by, for the benefit of, in association with, or at the direction of active criminal street gang members are prosecuted by experienced attorneys dedicated to achieving justice in these cases. Even though Ventura County is consistently ranked as one of the safest counties in the western United States, many violent criminal street gangs pose an ongoing threat to local residents. The crimes committed by those involved in gang activity may include vandalism, burglary, robbery, extortion, assault with a deadly weapon, trafficking in controlled substances, and murder. While the intended targets of such crimes may often be other gang members, the collateral risk and trauma caused by these crimes to innocent bystanders and the community as a whole mandate that all provable cases be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. For these reasons, the prosecutors and investigators assigned to handle gang cases are among the most experienced…
Bureau of Investigation
The Bureau of Investigation’s (BOI) more than 40 investigators provide professional investigative support in both criminal and civil matters to prosecutors handling cases in those areas and play a critical role in preparing cases for prosecution. The Bureau is staffed with a chief investigator, two deputy chief investigators, district attorney investigators, welfare fraud investigators, and investigative assistants.
Criminal Prosecutions
Criminal Prosecutions, with 65 attorneys, is the largest division within the District Attorney’s Office and is responsible for reviewing complaints, filing charges, and prosecuting the majority of felony and misdemeanor crimes occurring within Ventura County. Criminal Prosecutions encompasses the Major Crimes, General Felony, Misdemeanor, and Sexual Assault / Family Protection Units. Together, attorneys in these units prosecute the majority of the approximately 25,000 criminal cases reviewed each year by the District Attorney’s Office. The chief deputy district attorney of Criminal Prosecutions directly supervises the Major Crimes Unit, which handles homicides and other significant cases. Dedicated attorney supervisors oversee the other units and report to the chief deputy. The chief deputy serves as liaison to the civil and criminal grand juries, and addresses law enforcement and criminal justice issues on numerous other countywide committees.
General Prosecutions
General Prosecutions is responsible for assisting prosecutors, investigators and support staff in fulfilling the mission of the District Attorney’s Office to promote justice and protect the citizens of Ventura County. Overseen by a chief deputy district attorney, this division provides a wide range of services to support the operational needs of the District Attorney’s Office. Administrative Services includes the Information Technology Unit; Clerical Support Services; and the Fiscal, Administrative and Legislative Services Unit. The dedicated men and women in these units work behind the scenes to accomplish the critical functions that keep the office running. The division meets the computer and networking needs of the largest law office in the county, provides the clerical support necessary to handle more than 15,000 criminal cases each year, administers the operating budget, and provides human resources support to approximately 250 employees. In addition, Administrative Services manages facilities in seven locations, administers numerous grant…