Generally, criminal complaint requests arrive at our offices from law enforcement agencies. The Complaint Review Unit is responsible for reviewing the reports for criminal conduct and for determining whether or not the evidence warrants filing of a felony, misdemeanor or infraction. If the complaint review deputy believes that sufficient evidence exists, a complaint is filed; if not, prosecution is declined or additional information and investigation is requested from the law enforcement agency.

Within the criminal division there are areas of specialty to which attorneys are assigned. These include among others, domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, gangs and three strikes prosecutions. Often the filing review decision will be done by the attorneys assigned to these specialty units.