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HOME >
Criminal Prosecutions |
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CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS |
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The Bureau of Criminal Prosecutions is
separated into seven divisions – Visalia Division; Porterville
Division;
Juvenile Division; Major
Crimes Division, which includes specialized units in Homicides, Gangs and
Career Criminals; Financial Crimes Division which includes units in White
Collar Crime, Welfare Fraud, Workers Comp. Fraud, Auto Insurance Fraud,
Real Estate
Fraud; Family Protection Division, which includes units for Child Sexual
Assault, Rape, Violence Against Women, Elder Abuse, Child Abduction,
Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, and Domestic Violence; and Community Protection
Division, which prosecutes felony DUI cases, Agricultural
Crimes, and Auto Theft. |
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Major Crimes Division |
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Violent Crimes
●
Gang
Violence Suppression Unit
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Career Criminal Unit |
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This division consists of seven
attorneys and one supervising attorney. This division is responsible
for prosecuting career criminals, assaults against peace officers,
murders and criminal street gangs. These attorneys, located in the
Visalia Office, vertically prosecute cases arising throughout the county
which fall within targeted areas. |
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Financial Crimes |
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White Collar
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Auto Theft
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Auto Insurance Fraud
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Welfare Fraud/Child Support |
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Workers Compensation Fraud
● Consumer Fraud
● Real
Estate Fraud |
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This division consists of
nine
attorneys and one supervising attorney. Operating primarily out of the
Visalia Office, this division is responsible for the prosecution of
cases arising anywhere in the County which come within the areas of
White Collar Crime, (embezzlement, economic crime), Auto Theft, Auto
Insurance Fraud, Welfare Fraud/Child Support, Worker’s Compensation
Insurance Fraud, Real Estate Fraud, Agricultural Crime, and Public Administration matters. Cases
are handled using the true vertical prosecution model. |
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Family Protection Division |
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Rape
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Domestic Violence/Violence
Against Women
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Child
Abuse & Child Abduction |
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Elder Abuse
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Driving Under Influence (DUI) |
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This division consists of
five
attorneys and one supervising attorney. Operating out of the Visalia
Office, this division is responsible for the prosecution of felony cases
arising anywhere in the County which come within the areas of Child
Abuse, Domestic Violence, Adult Sexual Assault, Child Abduction, Failure
to Register as a Sex Offender, Elder Abuse, and Violence Against Women. Cases are handled using the true vertical prosecution model. |
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Porterville Division |
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The Porterville Division
prosecutes nearly 5,000 cases per year from felonies to misdemeanors for
the cities of Lindsay to Porterville and outlining areas. This is the
second highest total number of cases prosecuted within Tulare County.
Cases range from driving under the influence, thefts, assaults, and
other violent crimes. Though the cases that are prosecuted are broad,
the division has a specially assigned gang prosecutor who handles
prosecution of gang related crimes. |
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Juvenile Division |
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The Juvenile Division of
the Office of the District Attorney prosecutes all felony and
misdemeanor juvenile cases for the county and all cities within the
County of Tulare. From traffic matters to homicides, rapes and vehicular
manslaughter, prosecutors in the juvenile division screen cases for
informal supervision, certification to adult court and traditional
prosecution.
Serious and violent offenders are prosecuted to the fullest extent of
the law which could include trials in the adult division of Superior
Court. In addition, probation violators are held accountable for failing
to obey court orders.
First time offenders may be found eligible by the court to participate
in a “Deferred Entry of Judgment” program which allows minors to have
their crime expunged if certain conditions are met. These conditions may
include, but are not limited to court ordered restitution, obeying all
laws, attending school, completing community service and favorable
reports from the Juvenile Probation Department.
The Office of the District Attorney recognizes the impact of gang crimes
in the community and the importance of attempting to stop juvenile
involvement in gangs. To this end, a deputy district attorney is
assigned to vertically prosecute juvenile gang cases. |
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Community Prosecution Division |
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The Community
Prosecution Unit taps the creativity of the District Attorney’s Office
by placing a prosecutor in the local community. The program is designed
to deter youthful offenders from involvement with juvenile crime and
hold them accountable to repair the harm that they have caused to the
victims of crime, the community and themselves. This program is the
first of its kind in Tulare County and is being piloted in the
communities of Alta Vista in East Porterville, Pixley in the south
county and Goshen in the north county.
The prosecutor will
work with the local citizens, businesses and schools to reshape the
community conditions specific to their local needs to enhance the
quality of life in their neighborhoods. They will work together to
identify trouble spots, buildings with possible code violations, vacant
lots being used for dumping trash, graffiti related offenses and other
violations that affect the quality of life in the community. The
prosecutor will work with the local citizens to develop a mechanism for
community participation and strategic planning and will allow direct
communication with our office.
The program is a collaboration with the Tulare County Probation
Department, Health and Human Services, Sheriff’s Office and Community
Services and Employment Training (CSET) Inc. Volunteers will be
recruited in each community to serve on Neighborhood Accountability
Boards (NABs). These volunteers will be screened and receive special
training in order to serve on the Boards. The NAB serves as a
"neighborhood court" and allows communities the opportunity to share
directly in the responsibility of handling and correcting youthful
transgressions. This is accomplished by levying sanctions such as
restitution for damages, assigning community service, setting goals for
youth competency development and making amends to the community and
victims.
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