The Pursuit of Justice
The office of the Portage County Prosecuting Attorney is committed to equal justice for all members of our community. We are steadfast in holding defendants accountable, protecting the innocent, and preserving the dignity of victims and their families.
Each offender is to be viewed as an individual. Serious offenders are prosecuted with the goal of protecting our citizens, punishing the offender, and sending a clear message that crime will not be tolerated in our fine county. For less serious offenders our office puts rehabilitation into focus, diversion and treatment options may be appropriate. Rehabilitation can be an instrumental opportunity wherein offenders can change and become a productive law-abiding citizen, which in essence strengthens our community.
As a defender of your freedom the Portage County Prosecutor’s office is dedicated to working every day to make our community safer. Not only does the Prosecutor’s Office represent the interests of the citizens of the State of Ohio and the residents of Portage County, but it further represents the Portage County Government in many aspects of civil and criminal law. The Prosecutor's Office operates with four divisions: a Criminal Division, a Civil Division, an Appellate Division, and a Victim/Witness Assistance Division.
The Criminal Division represents the citizens of the State of Ohio and Portage County in prosecuting criminal cases in our County’s three Municipal Courts, two Common Pleas Courts, and the Juvenile Court. The Portage County Prosecutor is responsible for all criminal felonies, misdemeanors, and traffic cases filed each year in these Courts.
In addition, our Prosecutors are on call 24/7 to render legal advice and assistance to our County's sixteen different Police agencies. A Special Victims Unit consisting of multiple assistant prosecutors and an investigator prosecutes and litigates crimes against the most vulnerable among us, children, the elderly, the disabled, animals, and all sex offenses. A criminal Child Support Enforcement unit locates and criminally prosecutes "deadbeat" parents with large child support arrearages. This unit is fully funded by Federal Title IV-D funds. The criminal division is staffed by a total of sixteen Assistant Prosecutors, six investigators, and clerical support staff.
The Civil Division provides legal representation to all eighteen of our County elected officials and their respective offices. The division also provides legal representation to the County Commissioners, all County Boards and Commissions, the County's eighteen Townships, their Trustees, Clerks, and Zoning Boards. The Civil Division represents all of these entities in matters of litigation in State and Federal Courts, contracts, personnel matters, and collection of real estate taxes owed to the County. It represents the Department of Job and Family Services in matters of abused, neglected, and dependent children, and renders general legal advice to all of the County and Township officials. This Division is staffed by seven Assistant Prosecutors and an administrative support staff.
The Appellate Division provides legal representation in all legal matters of the Criminal and Civil Divisions involving appeals from local court decisions to State and Federal Appellate Courts. This division is staffed by two Assistant Prosecutors.
The Victim/Witness Assistance Division provides assistance, information, and emotional support to victims of crime and witnesses in criminal cases. Advocates are available twenty-four hours a day to assist victims of crimes such as domestic violence, stalking, assault, sexual abuse, child abuse, drunk driving, and to assist the families of homicide victims. These services are available to all residents of Portage County, or anyone who becomes the victim of a crime in Portage County. This division’s trained advocates are available to lend immediate support to victims of crime, to accompany them to court appearances, provide information and guidance concerning the criminal justice system, make referrals to appropriate social service agencies and counselors, provide information concerning compensation from State funds, and to notify victims and witnesses concerning important hearing dates and the status or outcome of criminal cases in which they are involved. This division is staffed by multiple Victim Advocates along with an administrative assistant. This division is funded by federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant money along with county general funds.