Global Navigation Links:
Residents |
Government |
Business |
Culture
Local Navigation Links:
Start here for the latest on important issues and topics
I Want to...
SAO
Home
About Us
Prosecution Units
Victim Information
Other Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Locations & Directions
Press Releases
Employment
English-Spanish translation
Ride-On
About Us:
Learn about our State's Attorney John McCarthy
Learn about our two Deputy State's Attorney's John Maloney and Laura Chase
Contact Information for employees of the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office
Phone Numbers for Important County Services
The Constitution of the State of Maryland provides that each county and the City of Baltimore shall have a State’s Attorney whose primary responsibility is the investigation and prosecution of all criminal defendants. The State’s Attorney is an independently elected state official, who serves as the chief prosecutor in Montgomery County, Maryland.
The Office of the State’s Attorney is staffed with 70 full-time Assistant State’s Attorneys, including the elected State’s Attorney, two appointed Deputy State’s Attorneys, and supported by a highly trained staff of legal assistants, investigators, victim/witness coordinators and a devoted group of volunteers. These dedicated public servants are here to serve you along with nearly 1 million other Montgomery County residents.
Traditionally, the State’s Attorney’s Office divided prosecutorial responsibilities according to the types of crimes committed: homicide, sex offense, economic, narcotic, gang, felony, and misdemeanor. Today the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, under the leadership of John J. McCarthy, utilizes a Community Prosecution model, prosecutors are assigned to six regional teams, which correspond to the five police districts in the county – Bethesda, Germantown, Rockville, Silver Spring, Wheaton-Glenmont and Montgomery Village.
Prosecutors handle cases arising only in their districts and, as such, are intimately familiar with their “turf”, its police officers, business leaders, civic and community groups, faith-based organizations, government agencies and, most importantly, its criminals. In addition, prosecutors are assigned to work with every public and private school in the county.
Prosecutors coordinate with school administrators and local law enforcement in an effort to identify problems before they manifest adverse consequences. Specialized prosecutions, such as domestic violence, child abuse, and elder abuse are also pursued by community prosecution teams, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the State’s Ability to successfully prosecute those crimes.
As a result of Community Prosecution, the State’s Attorney’s Office is now part of an integrated and proactive law enforcement unit, where prosecutors operate outside of the courtroom environment bringing effective crime fighting solutions and increased security to Montgomery County’s residents.