Criminal Prosecution

How Is A Case Submitted To The District Attorney's Office?

The District Attorney’s Office has a very important partnership with law enforcement, but we are separate entities with different duties and responsibilities. Local law enforcement agencies are responsible for investigating allegations of criminal conduct. The duration and intensity of those investigations depend largely on the type of crime being investigated.

Once the law enforcement investigation is complete, the case may be submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for review. The type of crime that is alleged will determine which prosecution team, described below, will handle the case. To provide better continuity and service to victims, every prosecutor in the Clackamas County District Attorney’s office who is assigned a case handles that prosecution through its conclusion.