The Mission of the Restorative Justice Program (RJP) is to provide a victim-centered, community-led alternative to prosecution that promotes community safety through facilitated dialogue. The program’s core values are centered on accountability, empowerment, and recognition. Our vision is to seek to repair harm for victims and other stakeholders affected by the crime, reduce risk of reoffending for offenders, and restore community relationships.

Diverting people away from the criminal justice system is one of PCAO’s top priorities in lowering the population of incarcerated people in Pima County and Arizona. Our Office is dedicated to diversion because getting people help for improving life skills, substance use disorder and mental illness, rather than incarcerating them, will keep families together and help create a safer, more equitable Pima County. Read below about some of the ways PCAO diverts people away from incarceration toward healthier, happier lives.

The Victim Services Division supports, educates and empowers victims and survivors to seek justice that helps restore them to as nearly whole as possible. Victim Services advocates assist and provide support to victims at crime scenes, right after an incident has occurred, and as a victim navigates the criminal justice system. Victims can receive information on community resources, have in-person support at court hearings and be comforted, emotionally, by an advocate through the Victim Services Division.

The Detectives Division is PCAO’s law enforcement arm. The detectives are highly skilled, Arizona POST-certified, sworn peace officers.They handle thousands of requests each year to ensure prosecutors have the evidence needed for trial. In addition, they maintain our 88-CRIME operations and serve witnesses with subpoenas. They also handle dozens of special investigations and, from time to time, make direct arrests. PCAO detectives also participate as members of multi-agency task forces that include officers from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

The Civil Division of the Pima County Attorney’s Office is the in-house law firm for Pima County and provides legal advice and representation to its elected officials and departments. Through its efforts every year, the Civil Division helps develop policy to protect public health, safety, and the rights of Pima County residents, advises County leaders and departments on issues that improve quality of life, and saves the taxpayers of Pima County millions of dollars through its efforts. The Civil Division also has some statutorily defined civil law enforcement responsibilities such as open meeting law enforcement, campaign finance enforcement, and removing someone who is unlawfully holding office.

The Criminal Division prosecutes felonies committed by adults in Pima County, all offenses committed by people under 18 (juveniles) within the County, and misdemeanor offenses committed outside of city limits. The County Attorney is dedicated to the empowerment of victims; data-driven, innovative, and cost-effective solutions to problems; and meaningful collaboration with our community partners.