North Dakota District Attorneys

The Role of a North Dakota District Attorney

Once a suspect is arrested by law enforcement, it's the prosecutor's job to decide whether or not to file charges. They make this decision based on the evidence in the case. Once the prosecutor makes a determination, it's their job to continue researching the case. It's also part of their job to appear in court and ultimately get a conviction or plea from the defendant.

If the case goes to a criminal trial, and the prosecutor gains a conviction against the defendant, it will be their job to give a sentencing recommendation to the judge. Depending on the nature of the crime, this may also include presenting testimony of a victim or family members of the victim(s) to speak to the judge about the crime's impact.

Sometimes, the district attorney will handle juvenile crimes. In this case, they'll handle prosecution in a juvenile court. At other times, they may handle mental health hearings. In these cases, the mental well-being of a defendant has been questioned. The attorney will consider whether the defendant is mentally sound enough to stand trial.

North Dakota Attorney General

The North Dakota Attorney General is responsible for representing the state when the state has an interest in the outcome, or it has been named as a party. They are the chief prosecuting officer in the state. The attorney general's office also provides opinions and legal services to state officials and agencies.

District attorneys are underneath attorneys general. Each county in North Dakota has a district attorney. In district courts, these attorneys handle the prosecution of criminal offenses.

Both attorneys general and district attorneys handle the administration of the criminal justice system throughout the state of North Dakota. District attorneys are county officials. They are elected, so they're meant to serve the public's interests in the administration of law enforcement. They assist law enforcement in carrying out what is supposed to be justice.

Directory of North Dakota District Attorneys

In North Dakota, district attorneys are known as state's attorneys. Below you'll find links for the state's attorney for each county in North Dakota. At each of these links, you'll find contact information for the state's attorneys' offices.

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

Charged by the D.A.? Get Help From a Local Defense Lawyer

Crime in North Dakota simply doesn't pay. But if you are being charged with a criminal offense, whether misdemeanor or felony, now is the time to learn about the law and any possible defenses that may be available to you. A great first step in starting this process is contacting an experienced criminal defense attorney in your area.

If you can't afford an attorney, it's important to know that you still have options. You could contact an office of the public defender. Attorneys at the office of the public defender can provide legal services free of charge to qualifying people. If you need referrals for attorneys, you can contact the North Dakota State Bar Association. They can provide free referrals for private attorneys. You could also contact Legal Services of North Dakota. This nonprofit organization provides low-cost legal counsel and legal help to qualifying individuals.

It's a good idea to get the legal assistance and legal advice you need and to know your rights. Don't do this alone. Attorneys can help secure the best possible outcome in your trial. They can handle all your legal questions. Handling a criminal matter can be complicated, so it's best not to handle your legal issues in a self-help-type way.