what a district attorney does

by Helen Nitzsche 9 min read

Role & Duties of a District Attorney

  • Conduct a Grand Jury Investigation. The prosecution of a crime begins well before the perpetrator is ever charged. ...
  • Decide Whether to Prosecute. Prosecutors are given wide discretion over whether to prosecute an offender. ...
  • Investigate Evidence. ...
  • Offer Plea Bargains. ...
  • Conduct Trials. ...
  • Litigate Appeals. ...

A district attorney is a public official who is appointed or elected to represent the state in criminal judicial proceedings in a particular judicial district or county; an appointed or elected officer who prosecutes cases in a particular judicial district.

Full Answer

What is the job description of a district attorney?

How much does a District Attorney make in Tampa, Florida? As of Feb 16, 2022, the average annual pay for the District Attorney jobs category in Tampa is $64,058 an year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $30.80 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,232/week or $5,338/month.

What is it like to be a district attorney?

There are 70 District Attorney Offices in Florida, serving a population of 20,278,447 people in an area of 53,618 square miles.There is 1 District Attorney Office per 289,692 people, and 1 District Attorney Office per 765 square miles.. The state of Florida is ranked 41st in District Attorney Offices per capita, and 25th in District Attorney Offices per square mile.

What role does the district attorney perform?

Dec 12, 2003 · A state attorney acts as a state legal representative while a district attorney is a prosecuting officer of a judicial district, he represent state in a distict level. I'm not sure this is accurate. As I understand it, it's merely a matter of terminology, which varies from state to state. In effect, every "district attorney" represents the ...

What is the purpose of district attorneys?

Welcome to the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida. The district we serve includes 35 of the state’s 67 counties. More than 11.5 million Floridians reside in our district, making the Middle District of Florida the second most populous district in the nation.

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Why are district attorneys so powerful?

Power to Negotiate Plea Deals The DA has immense power in influencing an individual's decision to enter into a plea deal or to take their case to trial. More than 90 percent of all criminal cases end in a plea deal. The district attorney has the power to offer a sentence to the individual charged with a crime.

What is the difference between a lawyer and a DA?

In comparison to lawyers who can be hired by anyone (including the government), the District attorney has only one client – the government and responsible for one job – to prosecute criminal defendants on behalf of the government.Apr 18, 2020

How much do attorneys make?

Comparatively, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics the national average annual remuneration of a lawyer is just below $145 000, approximately $12 000 monthly. With a 2019 national average income (all industries) of $68 703 annually and $5 725 monthly.Apr 19, 2021

Are a lawyer and attorney the same thing?

Lawyers are people who have gone to law school and often may have taken and passed the bar exam. Attorney has French origins, and stems from a word meaning to act on the behalf of others. The term attorney is an abbreviated form of the formal title 'attorney at law'.

What is the job of a prosecutor?

It is the prosecutor’s job to make certain the evidence available and admissible in the case is sufficient to meet this burden . The prosecutor generally relies on the police to produce sufficient evidence of the crime, but it is the prosecutor’s ultimate responsibility to investigate illegal activity.

What is the discretion of a prosecutor?

Prosecutors are given wide discretion over whether to prosecute an offender. Even if the evidence seems solid in the grand jury proceedings, there is always the possibility that the evidence will not be enough to move forward; witnesses disappear; or evidence reveals that another perpetrator was actually responsible. Criminal charges stemming from a police investigation, as opposed to a grand jury, often present a prosecutor with the difficult choice of accepting the charges or declining to prosecute. Citizen complaints alleging criminal activity are sometimes declined due to a lack of evidence.

What is the 22nd district in Louisiana?

Louisiana is divided into districts, each consisting of one or more parishes. The 22nd Judicial District, for example, consists of St. Tammany and Washington Parishes. Each district has an elected District Attorney. The District Attorney’s Office prosecutes crimes against state laws and local ordinances and is staffed by attorneys who present ...

What is a grand jury investigation?

Conduct a Grand Jury Investigation. The prosecution of a crime begins well before the perpetrator is ever charged. A grand jury is convened prior to the issuance of an indictment.

What is a plea bargain in criminal law?

A plea bargain is when the state, through its prosecutor, agrees to charge the defendant with a lesser crime carrying less penalty in exchange for a waiver of the defendant’s right to a trial. The prosecutor must present the plea agreement to the judge, who will review the new charges with the defendant and make certain he understands the agreement.

What is the role of a prosecutor in a criminal case?

Conduct Trials. If a criminal case goes to trial, the prosecutor must first work with the defense attorney to select a jury to hear the case. The prosecutor must investigate the background of jurors for potential bias and may excuse any candidate who likely cannot render an impartial verdict.

Is a grand jury open to the public?

Grand jury proceedings are closed to the public and are not subject to the rules of evidence. As such, hearsay evidence and testimony otherwise inadmissible in a trial may be introduced to the grand jury. Grand juries are reserved for the indictment of major felonies.

Hillsborough County State Attorney Contact Information

Address, Phone Number, and Fax Number for Hillsborough County State Attorney, a District Attorney Office, at North Pierce Street, Tampa FL.

Map of Hillsborough County State Attorney

View map of Hillsborough County State Attorney, and get driving directions from your location .

District Attorney Offices Nearby

Find 6 District Attorney Offices within 42.7 miles of Hillsborough County State Attorney.

About the Hillsborough County State Attorney

The Hillsborough County State Attorney, located in Tampa, FL, is an agency that prosecutes criminal cases on behalf of the Tampa government. The District Attorney heads the Tampa Prosecutor's Office, directing the attorneys who work for the office.

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Requirements For A District Attorney

  • Here are the requirements that aspiring district attorneys need to fulfill before finding work in the field:
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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. Because district attorneys typically work for counties and state governments, they often collaborate with other professionals, like specialists and paralegals, to gather evidence to use in criminal prosecutions. While district attorneys usually have full-tim…
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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. Attorneys also typically receive employment benefits in additio…
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