District Attorney
Overview
Mission Statement
The District Attorney promotes and ensures public safety through ethical and just prosecution.
Department Overview
The District Attorney represents the People of the State of California in all criminal prosecutions in Santa Cruz County. The District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is responsible for filing criminal charges, appearing in court on all felony and misdemeanor cases, and representing the People in all trials and sentencing proceedings in the Superior Court of Santa Cruz. To fulfill its mandates, the DAO has three divisions: Criminal Prosecutions, Victim-Witness Assistance, and Consumer Protection.
Budget Summary
Department Budget Overview
Overall Budget Summary
The Proposed Budget recommends a reduction of staffing to 107.0 full-time-equivalent (FTE) positions, including negotiated salary and benefit increases. Appropriations total $28,851,437, funded by revenues of $6,979,806, a General Fund Contribution of $18,657,695, a one-time use of General Fund Reserves of $1,318,936, and a use of Other Fund Contributions of $1,895,000.
Compared to the prior year Adopted Budget, revenues decreased by $1,609,303, which is offset by a one-time transfer of restricted trust funds. Expenses increased by $2,035,976, including an increase of $1,554,007 in workforce costs for negotiated salaries and benefits to retain a trained and skilled workforce and remain competitive in the job market. The salary and benefit increases are partially offset by a staffing reduction of 3.0 FTE vacant positions by unfunding 1.0 Victim Services Representative, 1.0 Attorney III, and 1.0 Departmental Administrative Analyst.
Emerging Issues
Emerging Issues
Potential Federal Funding Risks: Federal funding remains uncertain due to a rapidly changing landscape. While no additional reductions are confirmed, future changes may impact the Victim-Witness Assistance Program and require service or staffing adjustments in Fiscal Year 2026-27 and beyond.
Federal Immigration Policies: Potential federal actions related to sanctuary policies remain unclear. Ongoing monitoring and legal review may increase workload and require additional resources to protect community members’ rights.
State Legislative Impacts: State mandates, including California Penal Code Section 741 requiring race-blind charging and additional case review, increase workload and operational complexity. Continued legislative changes may require further process adjustments and resources.
Department Operations and Performance
Major Budget Changes
| Major Changes | Net FTE Changes |
2026-27 Ongoing Budget Increase / (Decrease) |
2026-27 One-time Budget Increase / (Decrease) |
Option |
|---|
Budget Details
The charts below show department expenditures and revenues by division and service. Click on the pie charts to drill down for more detail. Complete detail can be found on the County's Transparency Portal.
Expenses by Service
Expenses and Revenues over time
Staffing Chart and Data
The chart below provides the department personnel detail by division, service, and classification.