Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Jurisdiction

The District Attorney’s Office prosecutes felony crimes (those that can result in sentences of more than one year incarceration) throughout all of Los Angeles County. We also prosecute misdemeanor crimes (those that can result in sentences of one year or less) in all unincorporated areas and in 78 of the 88 cities within the County. There are 10 cities that have their own city prosecutors to prosecute misdemeanors in their city limits.

Cities, which range in population size from Los Angeles to Vernon, each have their own city charter and city council which govern within their city limits. Some cities provide their own municipal services, such as independent police or fire service, while others contract with the County.

Geographically, more than 65 percent of the County is unincorporated territory. That means that these communities do not have city boundaries and do not have their own city councils. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors serves as the direct governing and service providing body within unincorporated communities.

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