Community Prosecution Team

George Simms, far right, leads the Community Prosecution Team. This division works closely with citizen groups to improve safety at the local level.

State’s Attorney John J. McCarthy recognizes the many benefits of "community policing" in reducing the incidence of crime and improving the quality of life of residents of Montgomery County. Community Prosecution, as an approach to law enforcement, has several objectives: to address crime proactively, to solve problems, to create new and lasting partnerships with the community in order to improve our quality of life, and to improve the State’s Attorney’s Office’s relationship and partnership with law enforcement and public and private agencies. The result of all of our community prosecution efforts is to enhance the office’s prosecutorial function and make the community safer.

Throughout Montgomery County, Community Prosecution brings together geographically organized teams of Assistant State’s Attorneys (ASAs), Community Outreach Specialists and other support personnel who share responsibility for the prosecution of crimes committed within each of Montgomery County's police districts. Senior ASAs are assigned to each of the Montgomery County police districts and share responsibility for screening cases of community impact in that district. Senior ASAs are present at the police district stations on a regular basis and assist police with investigations, warrant preparation, and roll-call training. They also attend community meetings and handle quality-of-life issues that arise within their particular police districts.

The familiarity of each ASA with his or her police district helps the State’s Attorney’s Office respond to crime trends and determine the persons responsible for crimes in that area. ASAs also connect with the community within their assigned area in order to stay

abreast of the problems occurring there. Our Community Prosecution Unit works closely with schools, businesses, religious institutions, and other community groups to address crime before it occurs.

King Farm homicide: Jason Hadeed was killed in King Farm in February 2008. Sharon Diamant and George Simms attended the subsequent community meeting with Commander Darryl McSwain of the Montgomery County Police Department First District, Chief Treshuck of the Rockville City Police Department, and more than 100 citizens. Community Prosecution Team member Steve Chaikin and colleague Damon Bell later successfully prosecuted Michael Adams for first-degree murder.

Nuisance-abatement prosecution: A motel in Silver Spring had become a haven for drug sales, prostitution, assaults, and disorderly conduct. Maura Lynch worked with the motel’s management and attorney to upgrade its security. The motel management upgraded its lighting, hired a new security company to patrol the premises, and began meeting monthly with MCPD and SAO. It now requires parking passes on all vehicles in its lot and sends MCPD credit-card information on local guests. Had the motel not complied, Lynch could have filed a Nuisance Abatement Complaint. Under Maryland law, the State’s Attorney’s Office can file such a complaint against a commercial property that is the site of frequent drug-related crime. A District Court judge may order the property seized.