District Court Prosecutors are spread out across six District Court Divisions. Prosecutors in District Court handle felony crimes including murder, robbery, assault, drug-related offenses, etc. The prosecutors in District Court handle 200 felony cases per year on average, and often serve as a law enforcement liaison to our local police agencies. District Court Prosecutors work in the Adams and Broomfield Offices.
Prosecutors in County Court handle all of the misdemeanor and traffic-related crimes. County Court Prosecutors touch nearly 40,000 misdemeanor and traffic cases on average per year. Hundreds of those cases proceed to trial. County Court Prosecutors are staffed in eight courtroom divisions and the First Appearance Center. County Court Prosecutors work in the Adams and Broomfield Offices.
The Juvenile Unit of the District Attorney’s Office prosecutes crimes committed by individuals between the ages of 10 and 17. Juvenile prosecution varies significantly from that of District and County Courts as it must abide by a different set of statutes. Depending on the seriousness and the nature of the crime committed, some juvenile cases are sent to the District and County Courts. The Juvenile Unit is divided between the Adams and Broomfield Offices.
The Child Victim Unit is a specialized division within the District Attorney’s Office that prosecutes all felony-level crimes against children including Sexual Assault on a Child, Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Child Abuse Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Child Abuse Resulting in Death. Most of the prosecutors in the unit are Senior-Level Deputies, who have progressed through County and District Court, because of the serious nature of the crimes. The unit’s mission is to prosecute crimes against children and zealously advocate for the children and their families.
The newly created Special Victims Unit consists of a team of expertly skilled prosecutors who are equipped to handle highly complex sexual assault, human trafficking, and domestic violence cases while supporting victims through immensely difficult circumstances related to their case. The SVU is led by a Chief Deputy District Attorney who possesses a vast array of experience in these areas.
The Financial Crimes Unit handles all of the fraud, economic, and cybercrimes cases in the District Attorney’s Office. It assists law enforcement with the investigation and the successful prosecution of complex financial crimes cases. This unit is the only specialty division within the District Attorney’s Office to initiate investigations from the public and outside agency referrals. The unit and its staff strive to train and mentor law enforcement agencies to conduct thorough and meaningful economic-related investigations. The division handles the review and filing of charges for all financial-related crime cases.
The Drug Trafficking Unit focuses on the investigation and prosecution of larger-scale drug trafficking groups and drug-related criminal enterprises. This unit works in close partnership and collaboration with the North Metro Drug Task Force (NMDTF) and the DEA.
The Appellate Unit within the District Attorney’s Office is responsible for litigating most post-conviction matters and interlocutory appeals. The unit handles civil asset forfeiture cases and other civil matters related to criminal cases filed by the office. Appeals also assists prosecutors with legal research and legal writing while providing regular case law, statutory, and rule updates.
The District Attorney’s Intake Unit handles the majority of adult felony filings with the exception of those cases that are assigned to specialty units. In addition to making filing (charging) decisions, Intake Prosecutors review search warrants, court orders for production of records, and Rule 41.1 motions prior to being submitted to the Judge for approval. Intake also serves as the daytime on-call attorneys who are available to take questions from law enforcement.
The Investigative Unit of the District Attorney’s Office is comprised of sworn law enforcement officers who support local police agencies and attorneys through the prosecution of criminal cases. The tasks of a DA’s Investigator vary, but they typically include locating persons of interest, conducting interviews, and reviewing newly filed cases. Investigators are also uniquely qualified to conduct cold case reviews, assist with police officer misconduct investigations, and enhance the investigative efforts in the specialty units of the DA’s Office. Most of the DA’s Office Investigators volunteer on Critical Incident Response Teams that handle the use-of-force investigations of area police officers.
Paralegals and legal assistants make up the Support Staff Team in the District Attorney’s Office responsible for the direct support and assistance of prosecutors in criminal cases. Legal assistants complete the initial case entry process and follow up with local law enforcement agencies to obtain additional information if necessary. Legal Assistants also issue subpoenas, endorsements, and they ensure all certified documents are sent to the courthouse prior to the commencement of trial. The paralegals in the District Attorney’s Office work directly with the prosecutors to prepare a case for trial. They also manage witnesses and their travel arrangements to ensure they are present and ready for the upcoming proceedings.
The Victim Witness Services Unit in the District Attorney’s Office is the direct link between victims, their families, witnesses, and the criminal justice system. The Victim Witness Services Unit provides advocacy to victims and trial support to prosecutors. Victims who fall under the Victim Rights amendment are provided a Victim Advocate through the DA’s Office. The advocate provides direct services and practical information about the criminal justice system process. They also support and assist during meetings with prosecutors, prepare and/or present victim-impact statements, and provide referrals to resources. The main location of the Victim Witness Services Unit is on the second floor of the Adams County Courthouse, and the secondary location is in the DA’s Office in the Broomfield Courthouse.
Restitution is the court-ordered repayment of losses directly related to the crime paid by the offender to the victim. The Restitution Unit of the District Attorney’s Office works on behalf of victims to ensure their restitution is complete and accurate. Advocates gather documentation and prepare restitution reports that indicate the amount of money the victim is owed as a result of the crime committed. The prosecutors handling the case then communicate that information to the Court to ensure restitution is correctly issued at the conclusion of trial.
Crime Victim Compensation is a program designed to assist crime victims with their financial recovery due to the emotional and physical injuries caused during a criminal act. The CVC processes applications for services on behalf of victims of crime and those applications are presented to a volunteer board appointed by the District Attorney. The board makes decisions on which claims to approve and deny, and then advocates work with victims to gather the necessary information so they can be paid for their physical and emotional losses as a result of the criminal act. CVC-related losses include medical, dental, mental health counseling, funeral costs, lost wages, and loss of support.
The Diversion Program in the District Attorney’s Office is unique in the State of Colorado. It offers change-based counseling alternatives to prosecuting a case in court. Juvenile and Adult based Diversion has been in full operation in the District Attorney’s Office since 1977. Our program is built on helping defendants restore relationships to achieve justice. We do this through data-based proven practices that are culturally and linguistically relevant. Restorative justice is the bedrock of our Diversion Program as we elevate victim’s voices and help defendants repair the harm they have caused. Our three-year post-discharge success rate is above 85%, so clearly Diversion works!