Mission Statement
Seeking justice with fairness and integrity.
Overview
The District Attorney represents the citizens of Hall County in the prosecution of all felony criminal cases (and the misdemeanors connected to felonies) in a manner which best protects the public and best preserves justice for each citizen. (The District Attorney prosecutes both felony and all misdemeanor cases in Dawson County as well.)
The prosecution of criminal cases in the District Attorney’s Office includes giving advice to law enforcement agencies, a thorough review of cases opened in the office to determine whether to prosecute and on what charges, the preparation of cases for formal filing by Accusation or by Indictment by the Grand Jury, negotiation of appropriate dispositions, the prosecution of criminal jury trials, and complete handling of the case from the arrest of and accused through the Georgia Supreme Court and Court of Appeals when a case is appealed, and other duties as statutorily required.
In both Hall County and Dawson County, the District Attorney’s staff includes Assistant DAs, Investigators, Victim Witness Advocates, and Administrative personnel all with a goal of following the mandate of the law in pursuing justice with fairness and integrity
Accountability Courts
The District Attorney’s Office is an integral part of the accountability courts and other specialty courts within the circuit, including Drug Court, H.E.L.P. Court (a court addressing mental health issues of certain defendants), Veteran’s Court, Competency Court and REACT Court (a court addressing transition issues from prison to society.)
For more information on Drug Court and Mental Health Court (H.E.L.P. Program), please visit their webpage.
Juvenile Court
Juvenile Court prosecutes juveniles up to the age of 17 charged with delinquent activity and up to the age of 18 charged with unruly activity (runaway, ungovernable) who are charged with criminal activity. The focus of Juvenile Court is to supervise, treat and rehabilitate youth and is on a much faster track than Superior Court.
For more information on Juvenile Court, please visit their webpage.
Pretrial Diversion
The Hall County Pretrial Diversion Program conducted by the District Attorney’s Office is a 6-month program for some 1st-time offenders charged with minor property crimes. The program was created as an alternative to Hall County’s usual criminal procedure. It gives a limited 1st-time offender the opportunity to go through the program, but only with the consent and cooperation of the alleged victim.
Satisfactory completion of the program will result in the offender’s case being dismissed or Nolle Prosequied (no conviction ever being entered). Those cases accepted into the program are removed from the court calendars; therefore, the judge and assistant district attorneys can turn their attention toward the more serious cases.
For more information on the Pretrial Diversion Program, please visit their webpage.
Victim Assistance Program
The Victim-Witness Assistance Program (also called Victim Advocates) in the District Attorney’s Office Provides the following services to all crime victims:
- Provide information about the case and notification of court dates.
- Offer referrals to other agencies (counselors and non-profit agencies that can help victims).
- Assist with questions about restitution and applications for the Georgia Crime Victims’ Compensation Program
- Advocate for victims in matters resulting from the crime.
- Accompany victims to court.
- Support victims throughout the criminal justice process.
Our advocates are available to help with these services.
You may contact the Hall County District Attorney Victim Services at (770) 531-6965.