The Pocahontas County Attorney's Office serves in civil matters as legal counsel for the Pocahontas County Board of Supervisors and all county officers and agencies. The County Attorney's Office also serves in criminal matters as chief prosecutor for the State of Iowa in Pocahontas County.

Department Duties

Duties of the Pocahontas County Attorney's Office include:

• Prosecutes all indictable crimes such as murder, theft, kidnapping, robbery, burglary, sexual abuse, assault, arson, operating while intoxicated, and many others.
• Prosecutes non-indictable offenses such as traffic violations, simple assaults, and thefts.
• Represents the State of Iowa in juvenile court including delinquency proceedings and children in need of assistance actions.
• Represents Pocahontas County in civil legal matters such as lawsuits and workers compensation claims.
• Counsels and advises the elected officials and departments.
• Advises all law enforcement agencies within Pocahontas County twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and provides legal training to law enforcement and other agencies.

We take pride in representing the people of Pocahontas County in a professional and competent manner.

The Pocahontas County Attorney Office prosecutes adult criminal cases, brings juvenile delinquency and child in need of assistance court actions, and handles civil matters for Pocahontas County such as legal advice for county offices and the Board of Supervisors.  Adult criminal cases can be indictable offenses in district court or simple misdemeanors in magistrate court.  An indictable offense is usually brought by trial information, the formal charging document that is prepared by the county attorney and approved by a judge.  A grand jury may also find probable cause to charge an indictable offense.  In working toward disposition of criminal cases, the County Attorney Office seeks restitution for victims of crime.  The sentencing by the court aims to both punish and rehabilitate the offender.

The Pocahontas County Attorney Office works with various agencies.  Investigation and information about criminal matters usually comes from the Pocahontas County Sheriff's Office, city police departments in the county, the Iowa State Patrol, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE).  Other agencies such as the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, the Iowa Department of Human Services, Iowa Workforce Development, and the Social Security Administration occasionally do investigations that are referred to the County Attorney Office for prosecution.  However, the County Attorney may initiate a charge based solely on citizen information.  When enforcing court orders such as a sentencing, the County Attorney Office often works with the Iowa Department of Corrections that may supervise probation, as well as other local law enforcement agencies.