A District Attorney (or "D.A.") prosecutes criminal cases within their respective district, typically comprised of one or more counties. If you're accused of a crime, the D.A. will determine what criminal charges to seek, whether a plea agreement will be offered, or whether to prosecute you at all. In certain instances, the D.A. may convene a grand jury to determine whether charges should be filed.

The following information will help you better understand the role of a D.A. and how to contact your local Nevada District Attorney's Office.

Communicating With a Nevada District Attorney

District Attorneys have so much control over the prosecution that it can be very helpful, or even necessary, to communicate with them about the case. However, some prosecutors will refuse to communicate with a defendant in order to avoid the attorney ethical issues that might arise in that context. Whether they're willing to speak to you directly or not, they will always communicate to a lawyer representing you.

Keep in mind, however, that speaking to the prosecution can have the reverse effect than the one you intend. Your statements could convince a prosecutor that they will win at trial, that they should add charges, or that they should refuse to negotiate with you. They say you only have one chance to make a first impression, and this observation is particularly cutting when a criminal charge is at stake.

Criminal Proceedings: Working With an Attorney

There are other reasons to consider hiring an attorney to communicate with the prosecutor on your behalf. A local attorney likely knows about the attitudes of judges and prosecutors. They know if there are a lot of cases on the docket and the attorney is overworked and looking for cases to dismiss. They'll know local policies relating to prosecution, the sort of plea agreements typically available for different kinds of cases, and whether there are diversion programs that can allow you to resolve your case without a conviction on the record.

In addition to these advantages, an attorney's statements are less likely to inadvertently damage the case by revealing defense strategies and a lawyer can better communicate the reasons a prosecution against you may fail at trial.

Nevada Attorney General's Office

Unlike a local District Attorney, the Nevada Attorney General is the top lawyer for the state, representing Nevada in matters of litigation as well as enforcing consumer and other laws impacting state residents.

Directory of Nevada District Attorneys

Nevada has 16 District Attorneys, one for each county in the state. Click on one of the links below to learn more about your local D.A. or to contact their office.

Note: Although we strive to provide the most current contact and website information available for the D.A. offices in this state, this information is subject to change. If you have found contact or website information that is not current, please contact us.

Dealing With the Nevada District Attorney? Call an Attorney First

Regardless of how you proceed it will be a benefit to consider your situation carefully before you start talking, especially to the prosecution. Because the law is complicated you should strongly consider seeking professional legal advice. Get in touch with an experienced Nevada criminal defense attorney near you today.