The San Diego City Attorney runs one of the city's largest law firms, with over 340 attorneys, investigators, paralegals and clerical employees.
The City Attorney initiates and prosecutes all misdemeanor criminal complaints within the city, pursues and defends all civil litigation relating to the city, and serves as legal counsel for the Mayor, City Council, City Manager and city departments, including the Police and Fire Departments. San Diego voters will elect a new City Attorney in 2004, at the conclusion of incumbent Casey Gwinn's second term in the office.
The Criminal Division protects the safety and quality of life of the people of San Diego by intervening to stop criminal conduct at a misdemeanor level. Over 160 staff, including deputies, investigators, legal assistants, and others, work together in partnership with police and community groups to meet the needs of the community. The Units and teams that make up the Criminal Division include:
- Screening and Arraignment- Approximately 35,000 criminal complaints are filed each year by twenty five deputies for DUIs, drugs, possession of drugs/alcohol, theft, battery, vandalism, weapons offenses and sex offenses.
- Victim Information Program- Advocates for and assists crime victims through the criminal process.
- Dispute Resolution Office- Mediation, conciliation and mitigation are used by staff in appropriate cases to resolve conflict without criminal prosecution.
- Drug Court- A specialized court process breaks the cycle of addiction through early intervention, substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation.
- San Diego Traffic Offenders Program (STOP)- A deputy city attorney and support staff work with the Police Department to target 90,000 unlicensed drivers. The team impounds and forfeits offender's vehicles.
- Trial Unit- Twenty eight deputies rotating through units work to take cases to trial on behalf of the People of the State of California.
- Appellate Unit- Writes and argues more than 600 pretrial motions, writs and appeals each year.
- Neighborhood Prosecution Unit- Six deputies and staff work closely with the San Diego Police Department and community organizations to tackle quality of life crimes in neighborhoods throughout San Diego.
- Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit- Six deputies and support staff handle crimes against individuals and corporations involving public health, consumer fraud, environmental pollution and government corruption.
- Code Enforcement- Eight deputies and support staff work with the community and council offices to resolve code violation and abate public nuisances in San Diego's neighborhoods.
- Child Abuse and Domestic Violence- Thirteen prosecutors and support staff work at the San Diego Family Justice Center at 707 Broadway in downtown San Diego with the Police Department and social service agencies to prosecute misdemeanor child abuse, domestic violence, elder abuse and stalking cases.
The Civil Division is organized into four units and two teams. A staff of over 155, including deputies, investigators, legal assistants and others, work to provide legal services to the growing community. The units and teams that make up the Civil Division include:
- Employment and Safety Services Unit- Eight deputies and support staff advise and represent the Mayor, Council and City Manager, as well as the Police, Fire, Personnel, Labor Relations, and Risk Management Departments on a variety of issues relating to public safety, employment, labor relations, retirement and workers' compensation.
- Public Works Unit- Eight deputies provide legal services to City organizations, including Engineering and Capital Projects, Metropolitan Wastewater, Water, Environmental Services, Transportation, Facilities Maintenance Division, Stadium Authority, and Financing and Technical Services.
- Real Property Unit- Five deputies advise the City on real property acquisition, management, use, and redevelopment issues, and two deputies litigate eminent domain and inverse condemnation cases. Seven deputies, along with support staff, provide legal services to City Departments and Commissions, including the Development Services Business Center, Real Estate Assets, Community and Economic Development, Housing Authority, Redevelopment Agency, and the Planning Commission.
- Trial Unit- Twenty five trial deputies supported by staff represent the City, elected officials, and City employees in civil actions filed in both state and federal courts. Those actions involve police liability, employment discrimination and labor law, traffic engineering and roadway design, property litigation, contract litigation, contract litigation administrative writ practice, and collections.
- Public Policy Team- Four senior deputies and support staff, support and advise the Mayor, Council and City Manager in coordinating and preparing the weekly Council Docket. The team also prepares ordinances and resolutions for the City, including the Annual Appropriation, Salary, and Tax Rate Ordinances. They provide expertise on political and election laws, including the Political Reform Act, conflicts of interest laws, campaign finance laws, and lobbying regulations.
- Police Legal Team- Three deputies and support staff advise the San Diego Police Department on issues, including employment and labor matters, civil liability, confidentiality of records and official information, and general issues of policy, procedure and emergency preparedness.
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