how to report a district attorney

ONLINE To file a complaint, fill out the electronic form below. For FAQs related to the complaint process, click here. MAIL If you prefer, you can print the fillable English-language complaint form found here. After signing the completed form, mail it directly to the district office where the attorney practices.

Full Answer

What is the job description of a district attorney?

Job Description A district attorney is an appointed or elected public official who can represent a county, city or state. The DA is intimately involved in the prosecution of each criminal case in his jurisdiction. Their job is to rectify wrongdoings committed against the public.

Are district attorneys elected or appointed?

The local -or state- district attorney is an elected office, like the mayor or city council. The public (voters) votes them in -or out- of office just like any other elected office. Only a handful of states have appointed local district attorneys. In New York City, district attorneys, unlike every other elected office, are not held to term limits.

Who appoints district attorneys?

“I am different from many of my predecessors: This has been the work I’ve done my whole career,” said Ryan, who was first appointed as district attorney by then-Governor Deval Patrick in 2013 and has been elected twice since. The Belmont Democrat is ...

Who is my district attorney?

My responsibility is to ensure that schools run smoothly ... Story continues Law said he would issue further communication after hearing back from the district's attorneys. He said the District 113 school board planned to consider "action on our ...

What is the most common complaint against lawyers?

Perhaps the most common kinds of complaints against lawyers involve delay or neglect. This doesn't mean that occasionally you've had to wait for a phone call to be returned. It means there has been a pattern of the lawyer's failing to respond or to take action over a period of months.

How do I file a complaint against a district attorney in California?

The State Bar of California investigates complaints and disciplines attorneys who violate State Bar rules. For information on how to file a complaint, visit www.calbar.ca.gov or call the Attorney Complaint Hotline at (800) 843-9053.

How do I file a complaint against a local government?

Call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) or TTY: 1-800-877-8339. Speak to the station manager (postmaster) at a local post office. Contact the postal consumer and industry affairs office that handles questions for your district. Find your district consumer office.

What does the US attorney general investigate?

AGs investigate and bring actions under their states' respective unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices laws (“UDAP laws”). UDAP laws tend to broadly prohibit “deceptive” or “unconscionable” acts against consumers.

What cases can be filed before the Ombudsman?

A complaint filed in or taken cognizance of by the Office of the Ombudsman charging any public officer or employee including those in the government-owned or controlled corporations, with an act or omission alleged to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient is an Ombudsman case.

How long is the LA DA in office?

Los Angeles County District AttorneyDistrict Attorney of Los Angeles CountySeatClara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 210 West Temple Street Los Angeles, California, United StatesTerm lengthFour yearsConstituting instrumentCharter of the County of Los AngelesFormation18525 more rows

What are examples of civil rights violations?

Some examples of civil rights violations include:Unreasonable searches and seizures.Cruel and unusual punishment.Losing a job or being passed over for a promotion due to discrimination.Abuse by a public official.Any discrimination based on a superficial quality or belief.

What can you do if your human rights are violated by the government?

If you believe that a protected right was violated, you likely have a number of options available to you including: resolving the matter through informal negotiations, filing a claim with the government, and filing a private lawsuit in civil court.

How do you report human rights violations?

You can—and should—report human rights abuses. Even if they are not prosecuted, publicity or the prospect of an investigation can have a restraining effect on the perpetrators....Organizations to report to:Amnesty International.Human Rights Action Center.Human Rights Watch.Children's Defense Fund.Other organizations.

Who is above the district attorney?

In practice, district attorneys, who prosecute the bulk of criminal cases in the United States, answer to no one. The state attorney general is the highest law enforcement officer in state government and often has the power to review complaints about unethical and illegal conduct on the part of district attorneys.

What is the Department of Justice responsible for?

United StatesUnited States Department of Justice / Jurisdiction

Can my attorney go to court for me?

If you are a perpetrator of a misdemeanor, your attorney is allowed to appear in court for you. He/she may defend your rights without your presence on your behalf at all stages of your case.

How to find the name of the district attorney?

If you do not already know the name of the district attorney in your jurisdiction, you can find it online by searching for the website of the "office of the district attorney" or "district attorney's office" in your area. "District attorney" is the title of the chief prosecutor ...

How to address a concern with the district attorney?

The district attorney may not have the authority to address your concern, and may simply refer you to another office. If you are not sure to whom you should address your concern, consider telephoning the district attorney's office or contacting an attorney.

What does it mean to address an authority figure?

When addressing any authority figure, it is polite to show respect that person and the office he or she holds by using the proper title. Twenty-one states in the United States use the title of "district attorney" to refer to the chief prosecutor of a jurisdiction.

Do you capitalize "district attorney"?

Tips. "District attorney" is not a proper noun, and does not need to be capitalized unless it is being used as a person's title. For example, "I have a question for District Attorney Johnson" versus "I have a question for the district attorney.". Thanks!

How to find out if a district attorney is a district attorney?

1. Look up the correct address online or call the county court. An online search including “district attorney” and the county or city name will almost always turn up an email and physical address. Alternately, you can call or visit the country or city court to request this information. If you are looking for the specific attorney handling your ...

What to do if the government doesn't turn over records?

If the government fails to turn over records, the next step is usually to contact the local district attorney to lodge a criminal complaint.

How to communicate during a trial?

During the course of a trial, you may need to send written statements or other information to the district attorney, or ask questions. Do not write the district attorney if you are the defendant in a criminal case.

What are the victim impact statements?

All 50 states allow victim impact statements, which allow victims to indicate the toll the crime has take on them, and which may impact the judge’s sentence. These statements may include descriptions of: Injury caused by the crime. Emotional damage caused by the crime. Financial cost of the crime.

Can you request a trial record from a district attorney?

Know that all states have freedom of information laws that allow you to request public records, including trial records held by district attorneys. In some states, you will need to write to a special agency to obtain these records, but in most states, you can write to your local district attorney.

Do not write to the district attorney?

Do not write the district attorney if you are the defendant in a criminal case. Anything you write to the district attorney may be admissible as evidence in your case. Accordingly, your lawyer should handle all communication with the prosecution.

What happens if you don't report a violation of the law?

If there's no evidence of a violation, the board will dismiss the case and notify you. If the violation is minor, a phone call or letter to the lawyer usually ends the matter.

How to file a complaint against a lawyer?

In most states, you can file your complaint by mailing in a state-issued complaint form or a letter with the lawyer's name and contact information, your contact information, a description of the problem, and copies of relevant documents. In some states, you may be able to lodge your complaint over the phone or online.

What happens if a client fires a lawyer?

When a client fires a lawyer and asks for the file, the lawyer must promptly return it. In some states, such as California, the lawyer must return the file even if attorneys’ fees haven’t been paid in full. Lawyer incompetence. Lawyers must have the knowledge and experience to competently handle any case that they take on.

What is the role of a disciplinary board in a state?

State Disciplinary Boards. Each state has a disciplinary board that enforces state ethics rules for lawyers. The board is usually an arm of the state’s supreme court and has authority to interpret ethics rules, investigate potential violations, conduct evidentiary hearings, and administer attorney discipline.

What is the role of a lawyer?

Lawyers are given a lot of responsibility and often deal with serious matters, from criminal charges to child custody to tax and other financial matters. When you hire a lawyer, you are trusting him or her to represent your interests in the best manner possible. To protect the public—and the integrity of the legal profession—each state has its own code of ethics that lawyers must follow. These are usually called the “rules of professional conduct.”

What is a public reprimand?

issue a private reprimand (usually a letter sent to the lawyer) issue a public reprimand (usually published in the agency’s official reports and a local legal journal or newspaper ) suspend the lawyer (the lawyer cannot practice law for a specific time) disbar the lawyer (the lawyer loses his or her license to practice law), and/or.

What are the rules of professional conduct?

The American Bar Association publishes the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which lists standard ethical violations and best practices for lawyers. Some states have adopted the model rules as their own ethical rules, while others use it as a guide and modify or add rules.

What to do if accused of a crime?

If a person is accused of a crime, that person should contact an experienced criminal defense attorney for help. This is true no matter if the person is accused of: a misdemeanor, or. a felony. If a party is represented, and is then approached by the D.A., the suspect must inform the prosecutor of this representation.

What information do D.A.s need to press charges?

As to the first point, note that D.A.s normally just have the following information before they decide to press charges: the facts contained within a police report, information from a grand jury proceeding, or. statements from the alleged victim of a crime.

What does it mean when an accused speaks with the prosecutor?

This means the suspect hands over evidence that the prosecution did not have or possibly could not obtain.

What is misconduct in a trial?

The misconduct is typically ai med at securing a conviction or a lengthier sentence for the defendant. A judge can do any of the following if he/she finds that misconduct prejudiced the accused: dismiss the charge (s), admonish the jury to disregard certain evidence or comments, or. grant a motion for a new trial.

What does it mean to agree to something without knowing the true result?

agree to something without knowing the true result, agree to something without understanding the consequences, plead guilty to something that the prosecution cannot prove, ignore the fact that a police officer/police department violated his/her rights in their investigation/arrest.

Should I contact a defense attorney in California?

People accused of a crime in California should contact a defense attorney for help. This is true even if criminal charges have not been filed and a person is only a suspect. If a person is represented and is approached by a D.A., then that person must inform the prosecutor of the representation.

Can a prosecutor explain the consequences of a plea bargain?

But the deal may be nowhere close to being in his/her best interest. Here, though, the prosecutor has no duty to explain the true consequences of the bargain.

Why are district attorneys important?

District attorneys are powerful because they make big decisions about people’s lives. They control the fate of the Oregonians in the criminal justice system; and they influence what happens to those people’s families and their communities. And organization and agencies rarely look over their shoulder or check their work.

Why can't the courts check DA power?

But their roles are limited, and we cannot depend on them to send the loud and clear message that is needed: The courts cannot adequately check DA power because the Supreme Court of the United States has granted prosecutors almost absolute immunity against civil rights laws when exercising their discretion.

How many people in Oregon voted not to vote for the DA?

However, in roughly the last 10 years in Oregon nearly 80% of district attorney elections were uncontested and roughly 40% of people who voted in elections decided not to cast a vote for the DA. In a healthy democracy, no elected official should be guaranteed reelection.

Do prosecutor lawyers have clients?

Prosecutors don’t have clients like normal lawyers. Their client is the general public. The Oregon State Bar has some of the fewest rules in the country that are specific to the role of the prosecutor, so often their hands are tied too.

Can prosecutors be held accountable for misconduct?

Nonetheless, complaints to the state bar are one of the only ways to hold prosecutors accountable for misconduct, but the reporting process is flawed. The people most likely to know about ethics violations — defense attorneys and people in the criminal justice system — are reluctant to speak up.

Where to send a report to Child Welfare?

Fax to: 858-467-0412. Or, Mail to: Child Welfare Services/Hotline, 8911 Balboa Ave, San Diego CA 92123. Or, you can receive a web-based system link through the MRA (Mandated Reporter Application) after making your phone report to the Child Abuse Hotline.

Why are reporters mandated in San Diego County?

Many professionals and caregivers in San Diego County are mandated reporters for suspected abuse and neglect. Mandated reporting is an important responsibility.

Do health care providers have to report a physical injury?

Health care providers are required to make a report if they provide medical services for a physical condition to a patient whom they reasonably suspect is suffering from a physical injury due to a firearm, or from assaultive or abusive conduct inflicted upon the person.

Can a mandated reporter be held liable for a report?

Mandated reporters cannot be held civilly or criminally liable for making a report. If you are a mandated reporter, you are legally required to report if you know or reasonably suspect abuse of a child, elder and/or dependent adult.

What is an ODC investigation?

A fair and impartial investigation perform ed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC), wherein staff may communicate with you, the attorney, and in some cases, other parties, to obtain information;

What is efficient disposition of a complaint?

An efficient disposition of your complaint, being mindful of the complexity of the matter, cooperation of all parties, and availability of documents, among other things, which may affect the duration of the investigation; and. To receive official notification of the disposition of your complaint.

What is a district attorney?

A district attorney typically works for a county or state government and acts as the prosecutor in criminal cases. Each state maintains a justice department responsible for criminal prosecutions. Cities, towns and counties also maintain justice departments responsible for prosecuting crimes against local and state ordinances.

Requirements for a district attorney

Here are the requirements that aspiring district attorneys need to fulfill before finding work in the field:

Top skills for district attorney

Here are the top skills that a district attorney typically needs to succeed:

Work environment for district attorneys

While much of a district attorney's job can take place in a legal office, they can also work in other locations like libraries and courtrooms.

Salary and job outlook for district attorneys

The national average salary for attorneys in the United States, including district attorneys, is currently $94,578 per year, which is a very competitive salary. However, the compensation that a district attorney receives can vary depending on their education level, experience and skills obtained throughout their career.