District Attorney

Responding to criminal traffic crash investigations involving death or serious physical injury.

The Vehicular Homicide Team is made up of 5 deputy district attorneys with over 60 years of combined prosecutorial experience. The team responds 24/7/365 to criminal traffic crash investigations involving death or serious physical injury. We assist law enforcement personnel with legal issues in preparation for criminal prosecution of vehicular crimes including Manslaughter, Criminally Negligent Homicide, DUII, and Assault. During the investigation and criminal prosecution, we partner with our Victim’s Assistance Office to help guide victim families through this unfamiliar landscape.

In the aftermath of a crash, we work with detectives, crash reconstruction teams, first responders, medical personnel, and other experts during the investigation and prosecution of these crimes. The Vehicular Homicide team, in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, engage in regular trainings to help ensure a consistent county-wide response to these devastating cases.

There are two Deputy District Attorneys assigned to review stalking-related cases. This involves the crimes of (1) Stalking and (2) Violation of a Stalking Protective Order. When there are incidents that do not meet the crime of Violation of a Stalking Protective Order, a contempt of court charge may also be appropriate. Victims of stalking are encouraged to report the incidents to law enforcement. They also have the option to apply for a civil Stalking Protective Order, regardless if a criminal case is pending or not. This avenue may be able to provide the same protection as a no-contact order before a criminal case can be filed.

Our Victim Services office is able to assist a victim of stalking in filing the appropriate paperwork.

Mental Health Court (MHC) is designed for those who have committed a crime and are diagnosed with a major mental illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, among others.

MHC is a collaboration between the District Attorney’s office, probation, the court, the local defense bar and the county’s Behavioral Health Unit. It provides a wrap-around treatment team to help a participant manage their mental illness — whether that be providing support with their medication, drug treatment, weekly group counseling sessions, and/or housing.

Participants must be a Clackamas County resident, willing to comply with the rules of the program, and not pose a significant public safety risk.

MHC often provides participants with the incentive of a reduction in jail or prison time, while affording our community the benefit of intense treatment supervision the participant might not otherwise receive. Depending on the nature of the charges or their criminal history, a participant may be eligible for a deferred sentencing program which would result in their case being dismissed upon successful completion of the program.

Mental Health Court is held at the Clackamas County Courthouse. For more information, contact them at 503-655-8401.

LEAD seeks to reduce future criminal behavior by homeless and addicted individuals who commit low-level offenses in our community.

LEAD is a pre-charging diversion program, which means that some individuals may avoid having charges filed altogether if they enter and complete the program. The program pairs participants with LEAD case managers who act as brokers of services for the participant and connect them with services the client needs and is ready for, including addiction treatment, medical care, housing, and job placement.

There are two paths into LEAD:

• When a law enforcement officer investigates an individual for a low-level offense, such as trespass or small theft, and the officer determines that the individual is eligible for the LEAD program, the individual will not be taken to jail. Instead, the officer will 'hand off' the individual to an on-call social services caseworker/case manager. The individual must then complete an in-depth assessment, as directed by the case manager, within 14 days of referral and sign a release of information allowing information to be shared with LEAD partners. The investigating officer will write an arrest report and forward it to the District Attorney’s Office for review. A Deputy District Attorney will review the report to ensure compliance with program criteria. If the individual completes the in-depth assessment and follow-up treatment and meets all other LEAD criteria, no criminal charges will be filed on the individual’s case. If the individual does not follow through, criminal charges will be filed.
• A LEAD partner will refer an individual into the program without a specific criminal charge to be diverted. Here the LEAD partner determines that the individual fits the criteria: he or she is affected by drugs or alcohol, experiencing or facing homelessness, and is involved in the criminal justice system. If the LEAD team determines that the individual would benefit from participation and that the quality of life of our community would be improved by a reduction in future criminal activity by that candidate, the candidate is brought into LEAD.

Working to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.

Our office has 2 Deputy District Attorneys assigned to work with the Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF), a unit of the Sheriff’s Office comprising local, state, and federal law enforcement officers from multiple agencies working in the Portland metro area to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations. These DDAs work with CCITF agents to address issues relating to search and seizure law, forfeiture and property, search warrants, and the ramifications of legislative and judicial decisions. They also prosecute the suspects investigated by CCITF agents (including prosecutions arising out of fatal overdose investigations). One of the two DDAs assigned to this Unit is cross-designated as a Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA), able to bring cases arising in Clackamas County in either state or federal court.

For some defendants, the traditional court model has not been as effective as one would hope, and the dangers drunk drivers pose to our community justify a different approach.

DUII Court focuses on defendants who have been convicted of a DUII previously, often more than once. They have typically faced traditional consequences already: jail, significant fines, and probation. DUII Court takes an alternative approach that assists participants by creating an environment that focuses on the root issues: addiction and accountability.

In DUII Court, a defendant is assigned a multi-disciplinary team, which includes the DUII Court judge, defense counsel, deputy district attorney, deputy sheriff, probation officer, treatment court coordinator, and local treatment providers. Each team member plays an essential role in the success of the program, including the defendants. Because the program is voluntary, individuals who enroll are motivated, determined, and want to succeed.

Participation does not result in dismissed charges, but it comes with benefits to both defendants and to the community. These include treatment (in-patient and out), reduction or waiver of expensive fines and fees, reduced jail sanctions, and access to programs that assist participants with finding employment, education, housing, and health care.

The goal of DUII Court is to help individuals overcome their addiction and assist them in finding the tools necessary to maintain their sobriety long after completing the program. This leads to participants who not only maintain their sobriety but assist others in their quest to do the same, while keeping the community safer in the long run.

Drug Court is designed for adult defendants whose criminal behavior is driven, at least in part, by drug abuse or addiction.

The program focuses on individuals whose current or past convictions do not include firearms, violence (death or serious bodily injury), the manufacture or distribution of controlled substances, or sexual abuse.

The goal of Drug Court is to reduce drug-related crime and recidivism by providing treatment and rehabilitation to nonviolent defendants. The program accomplishes this goal by increasing awareness of drug abuse/addiction, promoting the ability of participants to live drug-free, and providing access to community resources to support positive lifestyle changes.

Unlike some specialty courts, Drug Court completion does not usually result in dismissal of charges. Instead, defendants plead guilty and sign a plea petition that allows them to enter Drug Court. Because entry is negotiated as part of a plea offer, Drug Court participation usually results in a significantly reduced sentence and possible avoidance of prison altogether.

Drug Court involves four distinct phases with specific goals:

• Treatment
• Recovery
• Relapse Prevention
• Community Transition

Participants make regularly scheduled court appearances, engage in drug treatment and rehabilitation, provide frequent drug testing samples, and work closely with a probation officer who monitors program compliance and provides progress reports to the court.

To graduate from the program, defendants must establish a consistent pattern of the following:

• Clean drug tests
• Employment or enrollment in vocational or educational programs
• Clean and sober housing
• Other proof of a stabilized lifestyle