County Court - Circuit Court - Specialty Divisions - Juvenile
COUNTY COURT
The County Court Division of the State Attorney's Office prosecutes misdemeanors, municipal ordinance violations, and criminal traffic offenses which occur in the Fourth Judicial Circuit. These include such offenses as Driving Under the Influence (DUI), Domestic Battery, Petit Theft, and all other crimes which are not felonies. County Court has 16 separate divisions, each with a prosecutor assigned to prosecute the cases in that division. In addition, there are division chiefs who supervise the County Court Attorneys. There is also a Director, who is in charge of the entire County Court Division. A number of paralegals and victim advocates are assigned to assist the prosecutors handling County Court cases.
CIRCUIT COURT
The Circuit Court Division of the State Attorney's Office prosecutes felonies. In Duval County there are five regular felony divisions. Each division typically has three prosecutors and a Division Chief. The Director of Circuit Court oversees all aspects of prosecution in this area.
SPECIALTY DIVISIONS
Repeat Offender Courts
Career criminals are targeted and prosecuted in two divisions designated to handle habitual felony and habitual violent offenders who meet a set criteria. This criteria is based on the crime the defendant is charged with as well as his or her prior record. Prosecutors assigned to these courts are able to use laws set aside for these career criminals resulting in the imposition of more severe sentences. These divisions try a greater number of cases than other divisions since the defendant is less likely to plea to the maximum sentence.
Special Assault Division
The Special Assault Unit is comprised of seasoned prosecutors who handle cases involving the sexual battery of children and adults, felonious domestic violence and child abuse. Special Assault cases are often difficult to prosecute in light of their sensitive nature, the domestic issues involved, and the inherent concerns with child victims. To assist with the diverse issues this unit faces, the unit has a large support staff consisting of investigators, paralegals, and victim advocates. Members of the Special Assault Unit receive ongoing specialized training to assist with their duties in the unit.
Homicide Gun Crime Unit
Funded by a federal grant, the State Attorney's Office has designated six experienced lawyers (including three directors) to a unit that handles all homicides and specializes in the investigation and prosecution of certain firearm related crimes. Nine additional lawyers in the office assist this unit with the prosecution of homicides. All other senior attorneys, including the State Attorney and Chief Assistant State Attorney, continue to handle homicide prosecutions in addition to their other duties. One compelling aspect of such specialized prosecution is coordination with both state and federal law enforcement agencies and with the United States Attorney's Office. Many of the defendants prosecuted in the Homicide Gun Crime Unit are facing 10-20-Life sanctions.
Special Prosecution Division
Special Prosecution is the division of the State Attorney's Office which handles some of the more complicated cases. These include cases involving public corruption, white collar crime, environmental issues, as well as major narcotics investigations. Because Special Prosecution is located in a separate building, it is able to handle confidential investigations. It also works with a number of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Special Prosecution has its own staff of investigators which enables it to perform proactive investigations involving important community issues.
Traffic Homicide Division
The State Attorney's Office has an experienced prosecutor assigned to handle all traffic homicides that occur in this Circuit. This prosecutor is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and frequently responds to the scene of a traffic fatality to evaluate whether or not criminal charges are warranted. If DUI Manslaughter or Vehicular Homicide charges are pursued, the traffic homicide prosecutor handles the prosecution of those cases. An experienced paralegal is assigned to assist the traffic homicide prosecutor.
JUVENILE
Juvenile Prosecution
The Juvenile Division of the State Attorney's Office consists of the Director, who oversees the Division Chief and the line attorneys. Our Juvenile Division places an emphasis on the proper balance between punishment and rehabilitation. All juvenile cases begin in Juvenile Court. Juvenile Division attorneys decide which cases will be filed in court and which cases will be diverted to an out-of-court program.
Juveniles Prosecuted in Adult Court
If the attempt to rehabilitate a juvenile delinquent is unsuccessful or juvenile sanctions are inappropriate, then the State Attorney's Office takes an aggressive approach towards prosecuting appropriate juveniles as adults. The decision to transfer a case to adult court is made according to mandatory guidelines established by the Legislature and discretionary guidelines approved by the State Attorney. Any transfer must be approved by the Director of the Juvenile Division.
All juveniles transferred to adult court are assigned to a ROC (Repeat Offender Court) juvenile attorney. The ROC Juvenile Division was created in March 1992 as a means to concentrate on the prosecution of repeat and violent juvenile offenders. One attorney in each of our Circuit divisions is designated to handle all juveniles prosecuted in adult court for the first time.
This office has received national attention for combining stiff punishment with jail programs and aftercare designed to rehabilitate juveniles prosecuted as adults. The State Attorney's Office chairs the Jailed Juvenile Committee, a multi-agency committee designed to facilitate effective sentences and programs for juveniles sentenced as adults. The Jailed Juvenile Program represents a costly investment by the State Attorney's Office, the Sheriff's Office, the Duval County School Board, and other agencies. Juveniles go to school in the jail, receive counseling and benefit from other forms of specialized attention. Some juveniles prosecuted as adults receive lengthy prison sentences. However, most are sentenced to up to one year in jail followed by several years of probation. Juveniles on probation must continue to participate in programs designed to reduce their chances of re-offending. As an example, juveniles are released from jail and placed on probation. Our office helps to supply them with mentors who meet with them on a regular basis.