State’s Attorney’s Office
The State’s Attorney is an elected position in Frederick County. The State’s Attorney’s Office for Frederick represents the State of Maryland in all criminal prosecutions that result from crimes charged by local law enforcement agencies occurring in Frederick County.
The Role of Our Office:
The State’s Attorney’s Office prosecutes all criminal, juvenile, and serious traffic offenses that occur in Frederick County. The office has four divisions: the Circuit Court Division, which handles all serious felony offenses; the District Court Division, which handles misdemeanor criminal and serious traffic offenses; the Juvenile Division, which handles all offenses committed by offenders under the age of eighteen; and the Child Support Division, which works to establish and enforce parental support obligations.
Each case where an individual is charged with a crime or serious motor vehicle offense is handled by the State’s Attorney’s Office. Attorneys, Investigators, Victims/Witness Coordinators and Administrative Specialists work in each division to collect all information and perform all tasks necessary to successfully conclude each case.
Cases are normally resolved by a guilty plea or trial by judge or jury. This Office also handles post trial proceedings like modification hearings, violations of probation, post-conviction proceedings, and other such proceedings.
The staff works with police officers, local police agencies, state and local government agencies, and the general public to provide information and services. The office also works to develop crime prevention programs in cooperation with other agencies.
The Child Support Division is grant funded, and focuses on establishing child support and paternity orders, and then enforcing payment of court ordered support. The Child Support Division works closely with the Department of Social Services and local law enforcement providing these services.