The City Prosecutor's Office is responsible for prosecuting misdemeanors, including all traffic and criminal cases brought before the Municipal Court for violation of criminal offenses occurring within the City.
A Domestic Violence Victim Advocate is housed in this Office. In addition, the City Prosecutor's Office hears appeals of public vehicle licenses denials and is responsible for nuisance abatement initiatives.
The City and Hamilton County collaborate on four Diversion Programs that have the potential to reduce jail overcrowding. The programs are:
- Hamilton County Diversion Program
- Off The Streets Program
- John's Intervention Program
- Hamilton County Mental Health Docket
The Diversion Programs benefit the community by improving the quality of life for City residents. The programs have the potential of reducing jail overcrowding and returning individuals to the community as productive citizens. Any increase in the number of program participants who do not end up in the justice system, potentially occupying jail space due to violations of City misdemeanors, decreases the cost to the community by decreasing jail bed costs.
The Community Prosecution Section coordinates issues among City departments actively involved in addressing safety and quality of life issues critical to the stability of the community. Community Prosecution focuses on aggressively addressing blight in neighborhoods and prosecuting negligent property owners in Housing Court for building code, safety, and health violations that negatively impact their surrounding area. A loosely formed Neighborhood Investment Team, which includes attorneys from other sections of the Law Department, supports Community Prosecution in addressing neighborhood safety and quality of life issues. Members of this team provide assistance in Title X (Air Quality) enforcement activities, zoning issues, and the coordination of liquor license renewal hearings.
The Office of Administrative Hearings is responsible for ensuring that municipal civil code violations are effectively enforced by conducting fair and impartial administrative hearings based on the Notices of Civil Offense issued by City departments.
