The Circuit Attorney is the chief prosecutor for state-level criminal cases in the City of St. Louis. The Circuit Attorney’s Office represents the people of St. Louis against those who stand accused of breaking Missouri State law. The Circuit Attorney is an elected position. The current Circuit Attorney, Jennifer Joyce, works with a staff of lawyers, investigators and other professionals to protect the public by bringing criminals to justice.
Facts about your CIRCUIT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE:
The Circuit Attorney’s Office is one of the largest law firms in the St. Louis area.
The Office has more than 60 attorneys, 30 investigators, 10 victim-services case managers, and a 20-member support staff.
The Office handles approximately 4,000 felonies (serious crimes punishable by more than a year in prison) and 8,000 misdemeanors (less serious crimes) per year.
The Office has a 98 percent overall conviction rate.
The Office has multiple legal divisions with expertise in the law ranging from homicide, sex crimes and child abuse to fraud, tax, and mental health.
The Office’s Victim Service Unit assists over 4,000 victims annually.
The Office’s Child Support Unit has approximately 1,000 paternity/child support case establishment.
Areas of Specialization:
Child Support
Community Affairs Bureau
Drug Court
Felony Trial Unit
Misdemeanors Unit
Victim Support
Warrant Office
White Collar Crime
What can I do if I am a victim of a crime?
Call 911 immediately. The operator will notify the police. It is important that you call 911 as soon as possible. This will make it easier for police to identify and catch the person who has committed the crime. Try to remember important information such as:
What they are doing and saying;
What they look like;
What they are wearing;
The make, model, and license-plate number of their car;
What they do after committing the crime.
This information will help the police and the Circuit Attorney’s Office in bringing the criminals to justice.
Above all, don’t suffer in silence. No one has a right to hurt you. If you are the victim of a crime, please contact the police. Otherwise, the person who hurt you might commit another crime in the future – against you or another person. Cooperate with the police and the Circuit Attorney’s Office. They might ask you to appear in court. This is very important. By appearing in court, you will make it far more likely that the person who harmed you will face consequences for what he or she has done.
What should I do if I witness a crime?
Call 911 immediately.
Notice and remember details about the person or persons who may have committed the crime.
Don’t be silent. By letting a crime occur without saying anything, you are allowing criminals to continue their work – and you or a loved one might be their next victim. Let your voice be heard.
Cooperate with the police and the Circuit Attorney’s Office. If they ask you to appear in court as a witness, know that you are important to making the case – and you are making your community safer.
How can I help fight neighborhood crime?
While police and prosecutors play important roles in fighting crime, the most important crimefighters in your community are you and your neighbors. That’s right – you and the people in your community.
Here’s how you can do it:
Make sure that your home, apartment building, or business looks well-tended, and that your block is clean and well-lit. Lawbreakers tend to stay away from such areas.
Get to know your neighbors. The people who live near you can be your best allies in the fight against neighborhood crime.
If you see or hear suspicious activity, call the police. Trust your gut. That instinct is there for a reason – and so are the police. Call them. Don’t worry that you might be “wasting their time.”
Get to know the police officers who patrol your neighborhood. Ask them about how things are going, and whether there’s anything you should be aware of. Keep them posted on any conditions that suggest the possibility of crime – such as abandoned buildings, new graffiti, or rumors of gang activity.
If you are a witness to a crime in your neighborhood, work with police and prosecutors to help ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. Help your neighborhood develop a reputation as a place where crime is not tolerated.
If you are called to jury duty, participate. Juries decide whether criminal defendants are guilty or not guilty. We need citizens to participate in this vital process.
Learn about conditions in your neighborhood. If you have access to the Internet, check the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s “Safe City” website, which provides recent information on criminal activity in neighborhoods across the city. To access this site, enter http://64.218.68.50/stlouis/newslmpd/viewer.htm or you can get to it through www.slmpd.org.
Track criminal court cases from your neighborhood through this website. Click on “Search Case Data.”