In theUnited States,county detectivesordistrict attorney investigatorsarepeace officersemployed by thedistrict attorney's office of their respectivecounty.County detectives generally exist in theNortheastern United States,such asNew JerseyandPennsylvania,where thecounty sheriffprimarily performs court-related duties.[1]Other jurisdictions may refer to them asdistrict attorney investigators. [2]

Duties and authority

edit

California

edit

In California, district attorney investigators are swornpeace officerspursuant to § 830.1(a) of the California Penal Code.[3]

The San Diego District Attorney currently maintains a law enforcement arm calledBureau of Investigation.[4]It consists of eight divisions, which include 130 district attorney investigators and other non sworn staff.[4]Amongst its law enforcement duties and responsibilities are assignments which may include pre-trial, gang, economic, insurance, fraud investigations; family protection, child abduction, sex crimes, stalking, and special operation investigations.[2]Apart from this, San Diego DA investigators may be assigned to regional local, state and federal task forces such as: computer and high tech crimes, narcotics, auto theft, identity theft, violent crimes, SAFE and fraud.[2]

Pennsylvania

edit

In Pennsylvania, county detectives are considered "general police officers" by the courts and as defined by statute. Title 16 P.S. § 1440 As such, county detectives are empowered to enforce all the criminal and traffic laws of Pennsylvania.

In conjunction with enforcing the laws of the state, county detectives also perform other duties as dictated by the district attorney. These duties often include assisting the district attorney and assistant district attorneys with the preparation of cases for trial, assisting municipal police departments with the investigation of serious crimes, and acting as the primary investigator for specific types of crime as outlined by the district attorney.[5]

County detectives often work joint investigations with federal, state and other local law enforcement agencies.

Additionally, many county detectives perform drug investigations as members of their county drug task force, which draws its authority from the district attorney of that county.[6]

See also

edit

Notes

edit
  1. ^Sheriff History – Pennsylvania Sheriffs' Association
  2. ^abc"San Diego District Attorney, Bureau of Investigation, District Attorney Investigator Jobs"Archived2018-05-13 at theWayback Machine,Official website of the San Diego District Attorney, access date: 12 May 2018.
  3. ^"Law section".leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
  4. ^ab"San Diego District Attorney, Criminal Divisions, Bureau of Investigation",Official website of the San Diego District Attorney, access date: 12 May 2018.
  5. ^"Chester County: Detectives".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-15.Retrieved2011-05-15.
  6. ^"District Attorney: Investigation Div".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-04-30.Retrieved2011-05-15.
edit