Victim Services Volunteer Program
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office provides services to thousands of victims every year and seeks qualified volunteers to make an important contribution to public safety and crime victims in Ventura County. Volunteer staff complete an initial 48 hours of training, which prepares them to assist victims with certain services, including obtaining a restraining order, emergency shelter placement, and court accompaniment. Volunteer training includes the following subject areas. For more information Click here.
Safe Harbor MDIC
Safe Harbor Ventura County is a coalition of public and private agencies to assist investigations and provide services to victims of child physical and sexual abuse and to adult victims of sexual assault. Administered by the District Attorney’s Office, partner agencies include all law enforcement agencies in the county, Child Protective Services of the Ventura County Human Services Agency, the Coalition for Family Harmony, the Partnership for Safe Families and Communities of Ventura County, Casa Pacifica, the Ventura County Health Care Agency, and the Ventura County Medical Association. Safe Harbor operates two Multi-Disciplinary Interview Centers (MDIC): one located in Ventura serving West County, and one in Simi Valley serving East County. The centers are located in houses that were adapted to provide comfortable, secure and confidential environments for interviews and medical examinations. The program promotes dignity and minimizes trauma for victims by reducing the number of interviews a victim must…
Family Justice Center
The Ventura County Family Justice Center (FJC), was opened to improve the lives of those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder and dependent adult abuse, human trafficking, and other violent crimes. District Attorney staff collaborates with a team of more than 35 agencies dedicated to a shared, vital cause — to reduce trauma, eliminate repeat victimization, mitigate future risks and make a lasting, positive difference in countless lives. Through our welcoming community and comprehensive, holistic services that focus on the whole person, Family Justice Center empowers and supports survivors of all ages and their families. District Attorney victim advocates and volunteers also provide traditional services and classes in both English and Spanish on the process and forms required to obtain restraining orders as well as information on the dynamics and dangers of violent relationships.
Family Protection
Law enforcement agencies in Ventura County have joined the District Attorney’s Office in our joint effort to thoroughly investigate and prosecute all crimes of domestic violence. In accordance with our protocol, police are trained in proper methods for investigating these cases so that all available evidence is gathered in a timely manner. This may include obtaining recorded statements of witnesses, photographs, documentation of all injuries, and securing other evidence. Due to the challenging nature of proving domestic violence charges in court, these cases are assigned to and handled vertically by deputy district attorneys. For Sexual Assault click here.
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.
August 13, 2020
District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Lenard Chester (DOB: 04-22-61), of Oxnard, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole by Judge Ryan Wright. On June 22, 2020, Chester was convicted by jury of the first-degree murder of Leah Bullis, aged 81, of Oxnard, with the special circumstances that the murder was committed while in the commission of rape and burglary.
August 12, 2020
VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the filing of two misdemeanor charges against Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy Leonard Herrera Lopez (DOB 8/6/71).
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.