The pivotal work of District Attorneys.
District attorneys are among the most powerful figures in the criminal justice system.
DAs’ central role is to ensure that people are held accountable for harm against others. This also applies to accountability among law enforcement, including holding police accountable in cases of misconduct.
They ultimately decide who gets charged with a crime, who can access drug treatment over prison, whether to prosecute a young person as an adult, and whether to pursue the death penalty.
With this immense discretion, district attorneys can play an important role in making our public safety approach more fair and effective.
District Attorneys (DAs) are the chief law enforcement officers for each of Oregon’s 36 counties, representing state government in the prosecution of adult and juvenile criminal offenses. Their offices also are responsible for victims services and enforcing child support collection.
The District Attorney leads a staff of prosecutors — deputy district attorneys who investigate and prosecute criminals on behalf of the district attorney. The prosecution presents a case against a person who is responsible for causing harm or who is suspected of breaking the law. District Attorneys also initiate and direct criminal investigations, guide and recommend sentencing, and are the only attorneys allowed to participate in grand jury proceedings.
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Your donation will help put Oregon on the right path for public safety. Contributions to Safety and Justice Oregon allow us to directly engage in advocacy and the electoral process by supporting policy research, unlimited lobbying, and certain political activities.
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