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The
primary duties of the State's Attorney office are...
1)
to work with the police in deciding what charges will be filed
against an offender;
2)
prosecute that offender in such a manner as best represents the
interests of Adams County as a community.
The
State's Attorney office is on-call 24 hours a day to service law
enforcement and Department of Child and Family Services requests.
In
determining whether to file charges, the States Attorney's
office considers
1)
the facts of a case in relation to the seriousness of the injuries,
2)
the use of a deadly weapon,
3)
the defendants prior criminal history,
4)
defendant's past history of violence,
5)
the cooperation of the victim.
The
Juvenile Assistant State's Attorney has the responsibility
for all cases involving young people, under the age of 17, who are
alleged to have committed a felony or misdemeanor, have been
neglected or abused or are beyond the control of their parents.
These procedures are governed by the Juvenile Court Act and remain
confidential. Termination of parental rights are handled by
this attorney also.
The
State's Attorney's Office prosecutes acts of domestic violence
perpetrated by one family member against another, actively
investigates and prosecutes white collar and organized crime and
investigates and prosecutes crimes such as obscenity, gambling,
official misconduct, as well as financial crimes including theft,
deceptive practices, insurance fraud, credit card fraud and forgery.
The
Victim/Witness Program
provides assistance to victims and witnesses of violent crime.
Cathy Dyer is the coordinator.
Assistant
State's Attorneys assigned to misdemeanor courtrooms are responsible
for handling case loads involving offenses such as driving under the
influence of alcohol (DUI), domestic battery, theft and criminal
damage to property.
The
State's Attorney's Office maintains and monitors criminal appeals
and prepares cases for transfer to the State's Attorney's Appellate
Prosecutor.
In
addition to the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases, the
State's Attorney is charged with the legal representation of Adams
County and is responsible for representing and advising the County
and its officials in civil litigation arising out of the course of
their official duties. These actions include personal injury, civil
rights, condemnation proceedings, construction litigation, tax rate
cases, and bankruptcy. Other duties include the enforcement of other
County ordinances, collection of taxes and monies owed the County.
As
legal counsel to county and elected officials, representatives of
the State's Attorneys attend count board committee meetings and
provide legal advice concerning the drafting of contracts, county
policies and resolutions. The State's Attorney provides opinions to
the County Board and elected officials and monitors new legislation
for its potential impact on the County. The office serves as a
resource for information concerning the Freedom of Information Act
and investigates and prosecutes any violation of the Open Meetings
Act.
The
State's Attorney's Office seeks reimbursement from parents for funds
expended by the County for care, support, and care of treatment of
their minor child for whom placement or treatment was ordered by the
Juvenile Court.
In
cases concerning the mental health of an Adams County resident, the
State's Attorneys office petitions the Court for the involuntary
commitment for those persons who pose a serious threat to themselves
or others because of a mental disease or defect.
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