Family Violence Unit

Coordinator: Deputy District Attorney Charles Cacciatore
(415) 499-6450

One of the targeted prosecution programs involves the prosecution of family violence cases. The majority of the cases handled by this free standing team involve "domestic violence" prosecutions - both at the felony and misdemeanor level. This team also has responsibility for the prosecution of all physical [non-sexual] child abuse and child neglect cases. Familial physical elder abuse [or dependant adult] prosecutions are within the purview of this unit.

This is one of the largest prosecution teams in the office with six attorneys assigned full-time to handle the demanding and stressful caseload. Almost all attorneys in the office will be rotated through this unit at some point in their career. The only cases handled by this team will be family violence cases and those cases will be handled in a vertical prosecution fashion.

To aid with the domestic violence portion of the caseload there is targeted investigative resources and victim advocate assets provided the members of this team. This unit works closely with Marin Abused Women's Services and other community based resources to support and counsel the victims' of domestic violence.

A senior attorney, with specialized training and experience, leads this unit. This unit coordinator will carry a minimal trial caseload and primarily is tasked with reviewing and charging all incoming family violence cases. The coordinator will provide training to the members of the team assigned to the felony vertical trial teams. The unit coordinator has community responsibilities as well. This attorney is assigned to attend the Domestic Violence Coordinating Counsel - a collaborative of many local resources and county family partners who have identified domestic violence as a high priority and come together to craft a unified community response to this critical issue. The unit coordinator is also tasked to meet regularly with Marin Abused Women's Services to review domestic violence incidents of concern to both parties.

The five family violence attorneys assigned to the felony trial departments report to the family violence coordinator and will handle any family violence case that is assigned to their felony trial team. Under a program authorized by our courts all misdemeanor domestic violence cases [and currently only misdemeanor domestic violence cases] set for trial will be assigned to a specific felony trial department well in advance of its scheduled trial date. This procedure provides for vertical prosecution of all domestic violence cases, regardless of whether they are felonies or misdemeanors.

Members of this unit are made available for law enforcement training and have participated in recent training of all Marin County law enforcement officers in domestic violence investigations and prosecution. When needed for a community or school program members of this team are provided as their trial commitments permit.

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