A deputy district attorney (DDA) is a prosecutor who works under the supervision of a district attorney (DA) in both misdemeanor and felony court cases. When a defendant is charged with a crime, the district attorney’s office is responsible for determining whether or not a case can be made against them. The deputy district attorney’s role in that determination, as well as any subsequent prosecution, is crucial. He or she conducts legal research, interviews witnesses, and oversees the prosecution of defendants in court.
When police officers make a misdemeanor arrest, they turn over the evidence and reports to the district attorney’s office for review. The deputy district attorney will be in charge of putting together a case against the defendant. Interviewing victims and potential witnesses may be part of this process to determine the case’s chances of success. In addition, the DA’s office investigates a defendant’s background to see if he or she has a criminal record.
If the prosecutor for the government decides to pursue the case, the deputy DA will represent the state in court and prosecute the case. After speaking with the parties involved, he or she will usually prepare a plea offer, which the defendant’s attorney will present to the defendant. If the defendant accepts the offer, the deal is presented to the judge; if the defendant rejects the offer, the government is represented by a deputy district attorney during the hearing, who takes notes throughout the process to refer back to later if necessary.
During the initial court proceedings in a felony case, this attorney usually represents the government and may be called upon to present the case to the grand jury. If the defendant is indicted by a grand jury, he or she may be asked to cooperate with the prosecution during the court hearing or jury trial. If the charge is extremely serious, such as murder, the district attorney will usually take over. The deputy will continue to assist with the investigation by gathering information and conducting interviews.
Other duties typically assigned to this prosecutor include preparing pleadings, advising complainants and witnesses as the case progresses, and assisting witnesses in their preparation for the stand. He or she will also speak on behalf of the government at parole hearings.