what does commonwealth attorney do

Full Answer

What does the Virginia Commonwealth Attorney do?

The primary duty of each commonwealth's attorney is to prosecute all felonies and misdemeanors charged under the Code of Virginia occurring in his or her locality. In other states, this position is often named "district attorney" or "state's attorney."

What does a commonwealth attorney in Kentucky do?

Commonwealth's Attorney is the title given to the elected prosecutor of felony crimes in Kentucky. In carrying out their duties, prosecutors have the authority to investigate persons, grant immunity to witnesses and accused criminals, and plea bargain with defendants.

How long is the Commonwealth Attorney term in Virginia?

four-yearLike all Constitutional Officers (excluding Clerks) the Commonwealth's Attorney is elected to a four-year term. The Commonwealth's Attorney represents the people of Virginia in prosecuting criminal cases.

Is Virginia Commonwealth Attorney elected?

§ 15.2-1626. Attorney for the Commonwealth. The voters in every county and city shall elect an attorney for the Commonwealth unless otherwise provided by general law or special act.

What are the duties of a county attorney in Kentucky?

The County Attorney prosecutes misdemeanor violations, by adults or juveniles, of criminal or penal laws of Kentucky that occur within the county. They also provide legal advice to the county Fiscal Court as well as county officials and officers. Their office may also collect court-ordered child support.

How do I file a complaint with the Kentucky attorney general?

* You may request a complaint form be sent to you by calling our toll free number at 888-432-9257 and selecting option #3. Please leave your name and address and indicate whether your complaint is against a telemarketer, automobile dealer, or other type of business.

How many Commonwealth attorneys are in Virginia?

The Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys (VACA), which represents all 120 elected prosecutors in the state, has generally opposed the kinds of reforms now under discussion.

Why is Virginia a commonwealth?

When Virginia adopted its first constitution in 1776, the term commonwealth was reintroduced, most likely to emphasize that Virginia's new government was based upon the sovereignty of the people united for the common good, or common weal.

Who is the commonwealth attorney for Arlington Virginia?

Parisa Dehghani-TaftiParisa Dehghani-Tafti is the Commonwealth's Attorney for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church. Parisa was first elected to a four-year term in November 2019.

Does Virginia have a district attorney?

A Virginia Commonwealth Attorney is the prosecuting officer of a criminal case (i.e., the official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses)....Virginia Commonwealth Attorneys by County.Accomack CountyPatrick CountyAlleghany CountyPowhatan CountyAmelia CountyPrince Edward County64 more rows•Feb 25, 2019

Who is Steve descano?

About Commonwealth's Attorney Descano Steve Descano was sworn in as the Commonwealth's Attorney for Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax in January 2020. He is a veteran, former federal prosecutor, husband, and father.

Who is Buta Biberaj?

Buta Biberaj (JD '93) Becomes First Elected Female Loudoun County Commonwealth's Attorney. My law school class in the late 1950s numbered over 400; the class included one Black student, and fewer than ten women.

Who is the county attorney for Bullitt County Kentucky?

Bailey Taylor - Commonwealth's Attorney - Bullitt County Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney | LinkedIn.

Who is the county attorney in Bullitt County?

Attorney Richard Schwartz focuses his practice primarily on bankruptcy law and debt reorganization. Mr. Schwartz has more than 3 decades of experience helping clients find relief from their overwhelming debt and over the course of his legal career, Mr.

Who is the Nelson County Attorney?

Janie Hite Janie Asher Hite has almost twenty years of experience handling all aspects of real estate law, and focuses her practice in that area as well as in probate, business law, adoptions and most other aspects of civil practice.

Who is the county attorney for Pulaski County KY?

Martin L. HatfieldMartin L. Hatfield, County Attorney. Welcome, Let me begin my saying how honored I am to be able to serve the citizens of Pulaski County as your County Attorney.

What crimes do Commonwealth attorneys prosecute?

All Commonwealth's Attorneys prosecute the most serious crimes, known as felonies, including murder, rape, and robbery. In many jurisdictions, they also prosecute misdemeanors and violations of local ordinances, including traffic offenses.

Does the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office support Victim Witness?

With increased public attention given to the plight of crime victims and witnesses in recent times, the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office strongly supports, and encourages you to utilize the services of the Victim-Witness Program.

What happens if the Commonwealth Attorney accepts a plea offer?

If the defendant accepts the offer, the parties present this plea offer and acceptance to the Judge. The Judge will review the file and then let the Commonwealth Attorney and Defendant know whether the plea is accepted. If it is, the case is settled as the parties agreed. If the Judge rejects the offer, the parties can renegotiate or take the matter to a jury.

What is a county attorney?

A county attorney is the elected misdemeanor prosecutor for the county in which he lives.

What is a 12 member jury?

A 12-member jury hear s evidence presented by both sides. Before a guilty verdict can be handed down, all 12 members of the jury must believe beyond a reasonable doubt the defendant committed the crime. Before a person can be found not guilty, every member of the jury must have a reasonable doubt about the guilt of the defendant. If all jury members cannot agree, it is called a hung jury and the defendant will have to be re-tried at a later date with a different jury panel.

How much do Commonwealth attorneys make?

Commonwealth Attorneys in America make an average salary of $61,143 per year or $29 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $87,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $42,000 per year.

How many commonwealth attorneys have a bachelor's degree?

If you're interested in becoming a commonwealth attorney, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 40.8% of commonwealth attorneys have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 4.6% of commonwealth attorneys have master's degrees. Even though most commonwealth attorneys have a college degree, it's impossible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

What skills do attorneys need?

We discovered that a lot of resumes listed analytical skills, interpersonal skills and problem-solving skills.

What is Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office?

The Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office serves our community by keeping it safe, reflecting its values, and ensuring justice is done. One of the ways in which the Office achieves these goals is by handling a notably wider array of cases than is statutorily required.

Who is the attorney for Fairfax County?

Steve Descano was sworn in as the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax in January 2020. He is a veteran, former federal prosecutor, husband, and father.

Why is the Justice Advisory Council important?

It’s important to better understand our community and how our justice system interacts with it daily. Therefore, Commonwealth’s Attorney Descano has formed the Justice Advisory Council. The purpose of this council is to hear from local voices, discuss the potential for better processes, exchange data, group think policy ideas, and help lead the fight for tangible justice reform.

What do prosecutors care about?

ANSWER: Our prosecutors care deeply about the welfare of all Virginians, especially those in need of assistance. People with mental health issues, drug additions or who are homeless are accountable for their behavior under the law just like the rest of us. Many Commonwealth’s Attorneys participate in and dedicate staff to alternative sentencing programs. Some examples of these programs are drug court, mental health court, DUI court, community and veterans court. These programs strive to keep people out of prison by providing solutions and resources to people who need the help the most. Many of these programs are not funded by the state. Some elected prosecutors seek outside grant funding like the Commonwealth Attorney in Virginia Beach did….

What are the duties of a Virginia prosecutor?

In the most serious criminal cases, prosecutors often recommend prison sentences to separate dangerous people from the public so they can’t hurt others. In other cases, prosecutors recommend counseling, restitution, diversion or other alternative solutions to seek justice and work to provide access to services people need to stay out of the criminal justice system.

What is the difference between a prosecutor and a defense attorney?

While they both must work within the law and ethical rules, the job of a defense attorney is to zealously represent her client regardless of the person’s guilt.

What is the burden of the Commonwealth of Virginia?

After a Commonwealth’s Attorney gets a case, they have the burden of continuing the investigation, introducing evidence on behalf of the state and proving a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Defendants have no obligation to prove their innocence in a court of law. That burden solely rests with the Commonwealth of Virginia through the efforts of the prosecutor.

Why do prosecutor in Virginia do what they do?

If you ask a prosecutor in Virginia why they do what they do, most would agree that they have a desire to serve their community, pursue social justice and to do the right thing. They understand both the responsibility and the privilege of serving as a prosecutor.

What are the rights of defendants?

Defendants have extensive rights in our legal system. These rights stem directly from the Constitution of the United States, as well as the Constitution of Virginia. It is the job of Commonwealth’s Attorney to do everything in his or her power to protect the rights of anyone who is charged in a criminal case.

Do prosecutor's work in Virginia?

However, there are some limited times when a prosecutor cannot speak publicly about a case. This is either to protect the integrity of an investigation or to protect the defendant’s right to a fair trial. The public can utilize Virginia’s open records laws to request documents and information from the court. You may also visit your local prosecutor in person! They would love to see you and answer your questions.