The
Commonwealth Attorney is a Constitutional officer elected for a
four-year term who is responsible for representing the people of
Culpeper County to present evidence in court against persons charged
with committing crimes within Culpeper. Cases presented by the Commonwealth
Attorney are tried in the Circuit, General District, and Juvenile
and Domestic Relations Courts. Furthermore, the office also coordinates
the extradition of criminals who have fled the state. The Commonwealth
Attorney’s Office also represents Culpeper’s interests
in forfeiture proceedings to confiscate assets in drug-related crimes.
Forfeiture proceedings are designed to deter drug dealers from selling
drugs within Culpeper by taking the profit out of dealing drugs.
The
Commonwealth Attorney's Office oversees the Victim/Witness Unit,
which counsels crime victims regarding their legal rights and offers
advice about rehabilitative services and other community resources
available for victims' protection. The Victim/Witness Unit also
notifies victims and witnesses of court appearances and pretrial
interviews. The goal of the Commonwealth Attorney's Office is to
obtain criminal redress for crime victims and insure that both the
citizens and defendants receive a fair trial. The trial function
includes interviewing witnesses, researching the applicable law,
presenting legal and factual arguments to both judges and juries,
preparing trial exhibits, presenting the testimony of witnesses,
and cross-examining defense witnesses.
Beyond
the preparation and trial of criminals cases, the Commonwealth Attorney's
Office also consults with and advises the Culpeper Police Department,
Sheriff’s Office, and the Virginia State Police regarding
policies and procedures, provides assistance for on-going criminal
investigations, and answers citizen inquiries concerning the criminal
justice system.
The
majority of the cases the Commonwealth's Attorney handles are brought
by law enforcement officers, although this office also prosecutes
select cases initiated by a citizen's complaint. |
