Maryland District Attorneys

A district attorney or state's attorney is the prosecuting officer of a criminal case. This officer is the official who represents the government in prosecuting criminal offenses. They work with law enforcement and make the case against a criminal defendant at trial.

Prosecutors must meet a high burden of proof at trial. In fact, they have the highest burden of proof. They must prove each element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. They must convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt of the defendant's guilt before members of the Maryland judiciary. Whether they're successful depends on the nature of the evidence presented at trial. More specifically, what evidence will be admitted at trial can be one of the biggest determining factors in proving a defendant's guilt.

The nature of the evidence can also determine whether a defendant will be successful during any plea negotiations. If an agreement can be reached, the prosecution could dismiss certain charges. A prosecutor might also seek reduced penalties if the defendant is willing to admit to certain facts or to plead guilty. This is one way to resolve your case, but it's not the only way. In fact, if the evidence against a defendant is relatively weak, it may be better to make your case at trial.

Communicating With the Prosecutor's Office

Communicating with the prosecutor's office may be essential for success in your case. It could help lead to a plea deal or inadvertently give you some insight into the prosecution's strategy. It could even give you a sense of what evidence they'll rely on at trial.

But before entering any discussions, it's important to seek legal advice and representation from an experienced criminal defense attorney.

If you can't afford an attorney, you still have options for low-cost legal representation. You can obtain an attorney through public defenders' offices throughout the state. It's never the best idea to try to handle your criminal law-related matters with self-help. DIY approaches are not the best choice when you're facing charges or on trial. If you can't secure legal representation from a public defender, you still have options beyond those lawyers. Advocacy services are available for free or low cost if you're a qualifying person with a low income. Review the following resources for more information:

• Maryland Legal Aid: As a nonprofit organization, this group has staff attorneys that can provide legal assistance on a pro bono or low-cost basis. Pro bono means that attorneys provide legal services free of charge. Legal aid attorneys can provide free legal help. Through Maryland Legal Aid, you'll be able to access the Maryland Court Help Center, where such attorneys are staffed.

• Maryland People's Law Library: Also known as the Thurgood Marshall State Law Library, this organization provides free access to legal resources, including a library of law books and materials. It's focused on providing self-represented litigants help when preparing for trials and cases.

• Maryland State Bar Association: Through this statewide organization, you can receive referral services. The State Bar Association's resources are great for lawyer referrals. With an attorney referral, you can begin your search for a criminal defense lawyer or any other kind of lawyer.

• District Court Help Centers: This resource will provide you with contact information for legal and administrative help centers serving the state of Maryland.

These help centers provide legal resources and help in a walk-in and by-appointment basis.

Under any given set of circumstances, you might need to communicate with the DA's office about any number of the following, which can often qualify as having criminal consequences:

• Child support arrears
• Expungement of your offense from your criminal records
• Harassment stemming from debt collection services
• Failure to vacate a property after a foreclosure

This is not an exhaustive list. It is merely a list of examples.

Maryland Attorney General's Office

The Maryland Attorney General is elected by registered voters. As a result, they are political in nature. The Attorney General's office represents the state in litigation and enforces laws meant to protect state residents. They're a government official responsible for seeking enforcement of Maryland state law. They oversee such issues in counties across the state of Maryland.

Directory of Maryland State's Attorneys

Below are links to some of Maryland's state attorneys' offices:

• Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office
• Prince George's State's Attorney's Office
• Allegany County State's Attorney's Office

You may find contact information for the remainder of the State's Attorney's offices, by county, online.

Note: Although we strive to provide the most current contact and website information available for the D.A. offices in this state, this information is subject to change. If you have found contact or website information that is not current, please contact us.

Don't Go It Alone: Contact a Local Criminal Defense Lawyer

Facing criminal charges is a stressful experience. Even if you think you can work with the prosecutor in your case, you need to make sure that you have an experienced criminal defense attorney working for you. The good news is that there are attorneys near you who can help. Get in touch with an experienced criminal defense attorney in Maryland and get some peace of mind. Whether you're in Rockville or elsewhere in the state, it's important not to do this on your own.