Commonwealth's Attorney

Responsibilities

The Commonwealth's Attorney and staff prosecute criminal and traffic cases, whether felonies or misdemeanors, for the Commonwealth of Virginia and the City of Martinsville.

Although Commonwealth's Attorneys are commonly referred to as prosecutors, their job responsibilities include assisting victims of any crimes that occur in the City. The staff keeps victims informed, bringing dignity throughout the process of the trial and sentencing of defendants.

Beyond prosecuting, the Commonwealth's Attorney represents the City's interest in forfeiture proceedings to confiscate assets in drug-related crimes. Forfeiture proceedings are designed to take the profit out of dealing drugs, deter drug dealers from selling drugs within the city, and to generate revenue for the city.

The Commonwealth's Attorney works closely with the Martinsville Police Department, the Virginia State Police and Magistrates to provide 24-hour-a-day legal advice. In addition to providing legal advice to law enforcement officials on an as-needed basis, members of the legal staff teach at the Police Academy to provide training for new officers and in-service training for experienced officers.

Goals

The overall goal of the Commonwealth's Attorney is to diligently prosecute criminals, to protect society from crime whenever possible, to serve victims of crime and to educate the public about the criminal justice system. The support of the community is key to reaching those goals.