LADA Office Overview

Office Overview

As the largest local prosecutorial agency in the nation, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has a jurisdiction covering 4,083 square miles. The territory stretches from Antelope Valley to Long Beach, from Pomona to Malibu.

On average the District Attorney’s Office prosecutes nearly 60,000 felonies and 200,000 misdemeanors a year. The Juvenile Division, which has nine offices throughout the County, files approximately 30,000 criminal petitions a year against criminal offenders under 18 years of age.

Cases from the central Los Angeles City area are prosecuted downtown at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center by the Bureau of Central Operations. Cases outside the central district are prosecuted by the 30 branch and area offices. Head deputy district attorneys run the main branch offices; deputies-in-charge run the branches’ smaller area offices. All office locations work closely with local police to prosecute crimes in their respective regions. Branch and area offices prosecute the majority of cases in the District Attorney’s Office.

Certain types of cases require expert attention and are handled by special division or units. Prosecutors in these units focus on certain types of crimes and are specially trained to prosecute them. Special division and units - as well as prosecutors in the Victim Impact Program - vertically prosecute crimes, which means that one deputy district attorney handles the case from beginning to end.

Mission Statement

The District Attorney of Los Angeles, as a constitutional officer and the public prosecutor acting on behalf of the people, is vested with the independent power to conduct prosecutions for public offenses, to detect crime and to investigate criminal activity. The District Attorney advises the Grand Jury in its investigations. By law, the District Attorney sponsors and participates in programs to improve the administration of justice.

The District Attorney fulfills these responsibilities through the efforts of the employees of the Office of the District Attorney. Each employee of the District Attorney's Office shall adopt the highest standards of ethical behavior and professionalism. Each employee, moreover, is integral to achieving the mission of the Office and shares the District Attorney's obligation to enhance the fundamental right of the people of Los Angeles County to a safe and just society. At all times, the mission of the District Attorney's Office shall be carried out in a fair, evenhanded and compassionate manner.