The Maricopa County Attorney's Office is committed to prosecuting criminals to the fullest extent of the law. Certain criminal activities require specialized prosecutorial expertise. The following are the criminal activities requiring this expertise: auto theft, computer/internet crimes, deadly weapons, drugs, family violence, gangs, hate crimes, homicide, identity theft, repeat offenders, sexual offenses and stalking. The Greater Phoenix Metropolitan area is ranked eighth among all states in car theft per capita (according to the 2007 National Insurance Crime Bureau Survey). In 2005, the Phoenix metropolitan area was number four in the country for auto thefts. Yet auto theft remains a major problem in Arizona and Maricopa County. There were 47,250 motor vehicles reported stolen in Arizona and there were nearly 3,000 arrests for motor vehicle theft in Maricopa County in 2007.
Words like "cyberspace" and "cyber-shopping" are becoming part of our everyday language. However, because of those who prey upon the unsuspecting while hiding behind the anonymity of the Internet, we have to add two new words to our Internet vocabulary: "cyber-criminals" and "cyber-victims". The Fraud and Identity Theft Enforcement Bureau is staffed with a team of prosecutors, paralegals and investigators dedicated to prosecuting cases in which technology is used to commit a crime.
The Arizona Criminal Code defines a deadly weapon as "anything that is designed for lethal use, including firearms." The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has a zero tolerance policy toward the use of deadly weapons in the commission of a crime. Prosecutors will aggressively urge a sentence of incarceration upon conviction. Probation is rarely an option in a deadly weapons case. Deviation from the policy is available in only the most extraordinary of circumstances. The bottom line: If you use a gun to commit a crime in Maricopa County, you will go to prison. It's that simple. Drug Diversion/Demand Reduction It is universally recognized that drug use is intricately linked with crime. Studies show that 55% of convicted jail inmates admitted to using drugs in the month before their offense1, and 1 in 6 committed their crime to get money to buy drugs.2 In order to reduce these numbers, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office Demand Reduction Program was created, utilizing a three-prong approach: enforcement, treatment and education.
The Family Violence Bureau was created in 1996. This bureau is responsible for prosecuting domestic violence, child abuse and elder abuse offenses committed in Maricopa County. Family violence differs from many other types of crimes because of the relationship between abuser and victim. The County Attorney's Office, in cooperation with several local agencies, has worked to create a standardized approach to handling the investigation and prosecution of family violence cases in an effort to combat and reduce the amount and frequency of abuse in our community's homes. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office Child Abuse Brochure is available for download. This brochure lists signs and symptoms of child abuse as well as resources for victims.
The Gang Bureau aggressively investigates and prosecutes Criminal Street Gangs. Criminal Street Gangs include ongoing formal or informal associations of persons whose members or associates individually or collectively engage in the commission, attempted commission, facilitation or solicitation of any felony act. As a rule, Criminal Street Gang Members and/or Repeat Offenders generally are not eligible for diversion or probation. Because of the danger to our citizens posed by these offenders, they are typically sentenced to substantial sentences in the Arizona Department of Corrections. The County Attorney's Office produces a Gang Violence Brochure which lists crimes related to gang activity and where victims can go for assistance.
A hate crime is defined as a criminal offense in whole or part motivated by hate or bias against race, color, disability, gender, ethnic/national origin, religion or sexual orientation. In 2005, over 300 hate-crime offenses were committed in Arizona3. Successful prosecution of these crimes may result in enhanced sentences for the offender. In addition, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office maintains a Hate Crimes Hotline. We encourage citizens to report hate-related crimes by calling the hotline at (602) 506-5000. The Homicide Bureau prosecutes most homicide cases that occur in Maricopa County, with the exception of cases assigned to specialists in our Family Violence, Vehicular Crimes, or Gang/Repeat Offender bureaus. Our Homicide Bureau has experienced trial attorneys who possess an understanding of advanced forensic science techniques, such as blood spatter evidence, DNA, ballistic and medical evidence. Prosecutors follow a case from the crime scene through the trial and resolution. The prosecutor who responds to the scene of a homicide usually will be assigned to prosecute that case, and will work hand-in-hand with law enforcement officials, the victim's next of kin and the community to ensure the strongest case possible. Homicide Bureau attorneys combine the latest technology in forensic science and courtroom presentation with aggressive prosecution and trial expertise to bring homicide offenders to justice. For information about victims' assistance for survivors (the family of a loved one who has been murdered), please download the Victims' Assistance Brochure, available in PDF format at the right It can happen to anyone, anytime. You receive a letter, e-mail or a telephone call informing you of a great offer, then asking for identifying information from you. But beware: the person on the other end of that offer may not be who they say they are. With your personal information, a criminal can open a credit card or bank account and rack up the bills, all using your good name. Arizona has the dubious distinction of being the number-one state in identity theft victims per capita. The Fraud and Identity Theft Enforcement Bureau was created in August 2004 to combat this disturbing trend. Through this specialized unit, victims of identity theft and related crimes will benefit from newly-enacted Arizona legislation that allows prosecutors to pursue identity theft and computer-related cases that cross jurisdictional lines.
The Repeat Offender Program (ROP) is based on the simple observation that 20% of the criminals commit 80% of the crimes. As law enforcement makes strides in getting repeat offenders off the streets, the County Attorney's Office continues its efforts to ensure these offenders stay off the streets. Repeat offender policies at the County Attorney's office ensure that defendants plead to the most serious charge or take their chances at trial. Repeat offenders are generally are not eligible for diversion or probation and because of the danger they pose; these offenders are typically sentenced to substantial sentences in the Arizona Department of Corrections. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office prosecutes cases involving sexual abuse of children and adults. According to the Department of Public Safety, in 2008, there were 1,654 reports of forcible rape in Arizona. Recognizing the sensitivity of these situations, prosecutors in the Sex Crimes Bureau have undergone special training enabling them to work with sexual assault victims, including children. Our nationally-recognized Sex Crimes Bureau is part of a team which includes other professionals so that the victim's physical and emotional needs can be met by an efficient, thorough and sensitive investigation. Our prosecutors make certain the victim will not be revictimized.
A report on a newscast refers to someone being stalked. Most people would assume the victim is a celebrity. Only the rich and famous are stalked, right? Unfortunately, you don't have to be a movie actress or rock star to be stalked. A 2005 U.S. Department of Justice study estimates that 1 in 12 women and 1 in 45 men will be stalked during their lifetime. A person commits stalking if they intentionally or knowingly engage in a course of conduct that is directed toward another person on two or more occasions over a period of time and either:
Often in its early stages, stalking manifests in other crimes, such as criminal damage, burglaries and trespassing, until the recurring behavior is linked to stalking. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office aggressively prosecutes cases involving stalking, which is a felony offense in Arizona, punishable by prison time. Our office encourages stalking victims -- and anyone witnessing a stalking crime -- to report any incidents to law enforcement. For more information on stalking, as well as safety tips on how you can protect yourself and your loved ones, download a copy of the Stalking Brochure, available in PDF format 1 U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Substance Abuse and Treatment, State and Federal Prisoners, 1997 (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1998). 2 U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Drug Use, Testing and Treatment in Jails (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2000). |
