The Prosecuting Attorney of Wayne County is in charge of the office that prosecutes felony and misdemeanor crimes that occur within Wayne County, Michigan, United States, the largest of Michigan's 83 counties. The current prosecuting attorney is Kym L. Worthy.
According to the prosecuting attorney's official website, the office prosecutes over 52% of all felony cases in Michigan. The office is the 10th largest case load of criminal cases in America.
The published mission of the office: "The mission of the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office is to pursue justice, to safeguard the community by demanding accountability for those who commit crimes and to enhance the quality of life by changing the culture of violence."
The current makeup of the office is 180 assistant prosecuting attorneys, 24 investigators, and 70 clerical and non-lawyer support staff.
History Before Michigan became a state in the Territorial dates, the Territorial Governor could appoint Public Prosecutors for a term of two years.
When the office of the Prosecuting Attorney was the county's Lawyer to advise County officials. "The principal business of the Prosecuting Attorney is the conduct of criminal cases. The office was also responsible for representing the county in all suits where the County was named as a party. In exercising this function, he is not, or should not be, a prosecutor in the ordinary acceptance of the word, for the law provided that he shall safeguard the rights of defendants." He is not even permitted to tell a jury that the defendant is guilty of the offense charged."
On June 17, 1971, the Wayne County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to employ a civil counsel to act as the office of corporation counsel to represent the city in all civil cases. Removing the power to represent the county in civil cases from the County Prosecutor. This was done under a state law allowed at the time.
""WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners to implement County Reorganization, will need independent, impartial and unbiased legal counsel to represent the Board of Commissioners in all legal matters relating to Wayne County."
"RESOLVED, that the Civil Division of the Prosecuting Attorney's Office be removed from the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and that the Civil Division be designated as the Office of the Wayne County Corporation Counsel."
The resolution claimed that the "complexity of civil litigation involving the county" had increased, and the Prosecuting attorney had increased the number of criminal prosecutors to 37 but not increased the staff of the civil division.
The then-county prosecutor William L. Cahalan sued over this resolution. Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney v Wayne County Board of Commissioners (1972) 205 N.W.2d 27, 44 Mich. App. 144. The Court of Appeals found the board of commissioners did not abuse their discretion under state law. The removing the civil caseload from the prosecutor's office.
Makeup of the Office
Full descriptions of WCPO's units are available on the Prosecutor's Office website.
Communications Division
Conviction Integrity Unit
Criminal Investigation Division (CID)
Finance and Administration
General Trials Division
Information and Technology Division
Information Technology Unit (WCPOIT) Litigation Technology Unit (LTU) Discovery and Information Service Communication Operations (DISCO) Information Unit (WCPOINFO)
Juvenile Division
Research, Training and Appeals Division
Appeals Division Juvenile Life Without Parole Unit (JLWOP) Training Unit
Screening and District Courts Division
District Courts Section Diversion Section Screening Section
Special Operations Division
Homicide Unit Public Integrity Unit (PIU) Asset Forfeiture Unit Deed & Mortgage Fraud Unit Prosecutor's Auto Theft Unit (PATU) Community Prosecution Unit
Special Victim's Division
Animal Protection Unit Child Abuse Unit Domestic Violence Unit Elder Abuse Unit LGBTQ Unit Sexual Assault Kit Task Force (SAK) Sexual Assault Team (SAT)
Victim Services Unit
Initiatives & Programs Full descriptions of WCPO's initiatives and programs are available on the Prosecutor's Office website.
Citizens Academy Copper and Scrap Metal Theft Initiative Drug House Program "No Child Left Inside" Felony Non-Support Internship Volunteer Program Lead Poising Mental Health Diversion Nuisance Abatement Padlocking of Blind Pigs/ After-Hours Establishments Pre-Trial Diversion Program Right TRAC Safe Schools Initiative Teen Court Teenage Victims of Sexual Assault Vehicle Forfeiture Program Operating While Intoxicated Violent Video Game Parent Awareness
List of Prosecuting Attorneys of Wayne County Prosecuting Attorneys under Michigan Territorial Num. Name Term1 Charles Larned 1819–18282 Warner Wing 18283 B.F.H. Witherell 18294 Warner Wing 18305 B.F.H. Witherell18316 James Q Adams 18337 B.F.H. Witherell 1834
List of Prosecuting Attorneys of Wayne County Prosecuting Attorneys under 1835 Constitution
Num. Name Term1 Benj. F. H. Wiherell 1835–18402 James A. Van Dyke 1840–18433 A.W. Buell 1843–18464 William Hale 1846–18495 D. Stuart 1849–18536 A. T. McReynolds 1853–18557 J.C. P. Emmons 1855–18578 J. Knox Galvin 1857–18609 D.E. Harbaugh 1860–186210 J. Knox Galvin 1862–186611 Jared Patchin 1866–186712 G.Hebden 1867–186913 Philip J. Van Dyke 1869–187314 Fitzwilliam H. Chambers 1873–187515 John G. Hawley 1875–187716 Henry N. Brevoort 1877–188117 Michael Firnane 1881–188318 James Caplis 1883–188519 George F. Robinson 1885–188920 James V. D. Wilcox 1889–189121 Samuel W. Burroughs 1891–189322 Allan H. Frazer 1893–190123 Ormond F. Hunt 1901–190724 George F. Robison 1907 (Died in office)25 George B Yerkes 1907–? Appointed to fill the vacancy
Partial List of Wayne County Prosecuting Attorneys Num. Name TermX Paul W. Voorhies 1921X W.T. "Peck" Powers 1926X Robert M. Toms 1927X James E. Chenot 1929X Harry S. Toy 1931X Duncan C. McCrea 1939X William E. Dowling 1944X James N. McNally 1949X Gerald K. Obrien 1946–1959X Samuel H. Olsen 1957–1967X William L. Cahalan 1967–1983X John O'Hair 1983–2000X Mike Duggan 2001–2003X Kym L. Worthy 2004–present
References
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