what does states attorney do in maryland

The Attorney General is the legal counsel for the State of Maryland. In comparison, State's Attorneys represent each county and Baltimore City and they are responsible for prosecuting crimes against persons and non-state entities.

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What does the Baltimore City State’s Attorney Office do?

The Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City (BCSAO) is responsible for the prosecution of all crimes that occur in Baltimore City. Employing over 200 attorneys and an additional 200 administrative and support staff, the BCSAO is the largest local prosecutorial office in the state of Maryland and prosecutes over 40,000 cases each year.

What does a state's attorney do?

Maryland States Attorneys – Maryland States Attorneys Association. Allegany County. Honorable James Elliott. 59 Prospect Square, Suite 111, Cumberland, MD 21502. (p) 301-777-5962 (f) 301-777-5964. Contact Us.

Do you need an attorney to close on a house in Maryland?

District of Maryland Our United States Attorney’s Office serves nearly six million residents throughout the state of Maryland. From the Atlantic Ocean to the Chesapeake Bay, from Annapolis to Baltimore, from Fort McHenry to Sharpsburg, from the flatlands of the Eastern Shore to the summits of the Appalachian mountains in the west, Maryland is rich in history and in …

What is an attorney state in real estate?

The Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City is the only prosecutorial office in Maryland to post investigation summaries where the office has declined to charge an officer after a police-involved use of force investigation. Read the declination reports and summaries which detail the explanation and rationale for each decision.

What do state attorneys do?

A State's Attorney, along with a phalanx of Assistant State's Attorneys, prosecutes criminal and civil cases for the people. Prosecuting attorneys are the voice of the people in America's courtrooms, enforcing the law and representing the duly elected government at all levels.

Why would I get a letter from the States Attorney?

A target letter is commonly used in white collar cases and it is a way for the federal government to notify you that you are a target of a criminal investigation. A target is defined by the United States Attorney's Office as someone against whom there is substantial evidence.

Are states attorneys elected in Maryland?

In Maryland, State's Attorneys are independently elected officials and do not come under the authority or supervision of the Attorney General. The decision to prosecute a criminal case or not, lies within the sound discretion of the State's Attorney.

How many state attorneys are there in Maryland?

Our 98 Assistant United States Attorneys and 73 support personnel are committed to excellence, integrity and achievement. Employees are organized into Civil, Criminal and Administrative Divisions and based in two offices, the Northern Division in Baltimore and the Southern Division in Greenbelt.3 days ago

What does a target letter mean?

A target letter is a written document that tells the recipient he or she needs to perform an action, such as testify before a grand jury or meet with an Assistant U.S. Attorney. ... Target letters can be sent out at various stages of an ongoing investigation.Sep 30, 2021

Why would DOJ send me a letter?

The Department of Justice customarily sends target letters to individuals who are the target of a grand jury investigation and to those who are the subject of a grand jury investigation.

What is the term of the Maryland Attorney General?

The Attorney General of Maryland is the chief legal officer of the state of Maryland. The attorney general is popularly elected by Maryland voters in federal midterm years and serves four-year terms without term limits.

Can a state attorney be removed from office?

The following are grounds for suspension of a district attorney or for his removal from office: (1) Mental or physical incapacity interfering with the performance of his duties which is, or is likely to become, permanent; (2) Willful misconduct in office; (3) Willful and persistent failure to perform his duties; (4) ...

What is the Maryland state Constitution?

The current Constitution of the State of Maryland, which was ratified by the people of the state on September 18, 1867, forms the basic law for the U.S. state of Maryland. It replaced the short-lived Maryland Constitution of 1864 and is the fourth constitution under which the state has been governed.

How much does the Maryland attorney general make?

State executive salariesOffice and current officialSalaryAttorney General of Maryland Brian Frosh$125,000Maryland Secretary of State John C. Wobensmith$87,500Chief of Staff to the Governor of Maryland Amelia Chasse AlcivarMaryland Commissioner of Insurance Kathleen Birrane10 more rows

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

To file a complaint, you can use our General Complaint Form:Click here to file a complaint online.Click here to print, complete, and send in the form.Call the Consumer Protection Division Hotline at (410) 528-8662 Mon. -Fri. 9am - 3pm.

Who is the DA in Maryland?

Erek BarronSince October 2021, the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland is Erek Barron. The United States District Court for the District of Maryland has jurisdiction over all cases prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney.

You're Not Alone

The Victim & Witness Services Unit of the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City serves the victims and witnesses of all crimes that occur in Baltimore City regardless of the case status or outcome. Learn more about our services.

Effective Prosecution of Crime

The mission of the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City is to safeguard communities in Baltimore City through the effective prosecution of crime. Read to learn more about our latest convictions.

Investing in the Community

The Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City takes a holistic approach to fighting crime, keeping the community informed, investing in Baltimore’s youth before they encounter the criminal justice system and providing second-chance opportunities to first-time nonviolent offenders. Find us in a community near year.

Public Trust and Police Integrity

The Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City is the only prosecutorial office in Maryland to post investigation summaries where the office has declined to charge an officer after a police-involved use of force investigation. Read the declination reports and summaries which detail the explanation and rationale for each decision.

What is the Maryland Public Information Act?

The Maryland Public Information Act (PIA) govern s the inspection and copying of public records held by state and local government agencies.

What is the Attorney General's Office?

The Attorney General's Office is the attorney for the state and its agencies and cannot offer legal advice to individuals. If you need help with a personal legal matter you may want to contact a private attorney. The Office does assist individuals with consumer problems through the mediation service offered by the Consumer Protection Division. ...

Can you request a court to review a PIA?

However, the law also exempts certain records from disclosure. If you are denied access to a record held by a state or local agency, you may ask a court to review whether the denial was appropriate under the PIA. You can find additional information about the PIA in the Public Information Act Manual.

STATE'S ATTORNEY

State's Attorney, Baltimore City, since January 5, 2015. Member, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Baltimore City, 2015-17; Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council [Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems], Baltimore City, 2015-.

Maryland Manual On-Line

This web site is presented for reference purposes under the doctrine of fair use. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: The site may contain material from other sources which may be under copyright.

How are state attorneys elected?

In general, State's Attorneys are elected by the people they represent. Their duties are spelled out in the laws of the local governments they represent, and they're held accountable by the voters for how well they do their jobs and how well their performance matches up with the local politics of the area. But a State's Attorney hardly ever does ...

How do police arrest a suspect?

First, police file a warrant or charging request with the State's Attorney following an investigation. Attorneys review the request and may decide to issue a warrant, which allows the police to arrest the suspect. An arraignment in court follows, at which the suspect is formally charged with a crime and enters a plea.

What is the job of a criminal prosecutor?

Criminal prosecutions are the chief duty of most State's Attorney offices. In many states, such as Michigan, criminal prosecutions follow a predetermined series of steps [source: Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan ]. First, police file a warrant or charging request with the State's Attorney following an investigation.

How many states have grand jury indictments?

About half the 50 states use grand jury indictments in criminal prosecutions. Grand juries hear cases brought by State's Attorneys, and only the evidence and witnesses presented by the State's Attorney are considered.

What is a Commonwealth's Attorney?

States that refer to themselves as commonwealths, such as Virginia and Kentucky, refer to them as Commonwealth's Attorneys [source: Commonwealth's Attorneys Services Council ]. State's Attorneys generally represent a defined geographic area, such as a county, judicial district or judicial circuit. These generally hold the title ...

What is a prosecutor?

A State's Attorney is the most common term for a prosecutor, someone who represents the people in criminal and civil legal matters. But while the most iconic image of a State's Attorney is ...

What happens before a trial?

Before a trial takes place, the process of discovery takes place, at which the State's Attorney and the defense attorney share information they intend to introduce as evidence at trial.

What is a third party loan signing agent?

In escrow states, a neutral third-party loan signing agent is hired for mortgage closings. In attorney states, attorneys handle the loan document signing process in-house. And because of this, notary loan signings are not as prevalent in attorney states as they are in escrow states. However, there are some cases where third party loan signing ...

What is the difference between an attorney and an escrow company?

However, the main difference between the attorney and the escrow company is that a large portion of the closing process is handled in-house.

What is escrow in real estate?

Put simply, in an escrow state, an escrow company directs the closing of a real estate transaction. Whether it be between a buyer and seller or a lender and borrower, the escrow company is the neutral third party playing quarterback to the transaction. One of the many duties of the escrow company in a real estate transaction is choosing ...

Can you notarize a loan in California?

For instance, if you are a loan signing agent in New York (an attorney state) it’s possible to be called upon to notarize a set of loan documents for a property located in California (an escrow state) if the borrower resides in or is visiting New York.

Can a notary sign a loan?

Now, onto scenarios in which a notary loan signing agent can be used for a loan signing appointment in an attorney state. A notary loan signing agent can be used for a signing if the property is located in an escrow state. For instance, if you are a loan signing agent in New York (an attorney state) it’s possible to be called ...

Why do real estate attorneys help?

Provide peace of mind to all parties. Thanks to their experience and education, real estate attorneys can provide some peace of mind for all parties involved. They help protect clients from legal disputes and streamline the closing process for a smooth sale.

What can an attorney do in a contract dispute?

Attorneys can also act as a mediator between buyers and sellers in a contract dispute. The attorney can look back on the sale documents and provide both parties with an unbiased, legal perspective.

What is a fact checker in real estate?

In many ways, real estate attorneys serve as “fact-checkers.” Agents can often defer to an attorney’s better judgment, concerning everything from initial contracts to the breakdown of final closing costs.

How much does a real estate attorney charge?

However, some attorneys charge a flat fee for their assistance in real estate transactions, and these costs can range from $950 to $5,000. The buyer usually foots the bill for this expense, but they may negotiate for the seller to pay the fees in some instances.

What do attorneys do before transferring a property title?

Before transferring the property title, attorneys evaluate public records on a property’s history, to uncover any potential liens or other issues that might negatively impact the title for the new owner.

What is the job of an attorney?

According to Cowart, the attorney’s primary job is to review, and sometimes draft, the title and contracts and to facilitate the closing process; in states where an attorney’s participation is not mandated, title companies typically conduct these steps.

Which states require a real estate attorney to close?

Nebraska: Real estate attorneys are not essential for closing but may be advised by your real estate agent. Nevada: Real estate attorneys are not essential for closing but may be advised by your real estate agent. New Hampshire: New Hampshire requires a licensed attorney to conduct real estate closings.