The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office is dedicated to serving the people of Hampshire and Franklin counties and the town of Athol through rigorous, fair prosecutions and progressive prevention and intervention efforts.
The Appellate Unit litigates post-conviction appeals and cases in which the Commonwealth itself pursues an appeal.
The Child Abuse Unit specializes in investigating and prosecuting cases involving the abuse of children and uses a child-friendly setting, the Children's Advocacy Center to help children feel comfortable and safe. The C.A.U. partners with local and national experts to seek just outcomes and to provide support, medical care, and mental health services to victims and their families. Child Abuse Unit members work to stop child abuse and child abusers, to protect children, and to keep children and families safe and healthy.
The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office is dedicated to investigating claims of wrongful convictions and taking remedial action as necessary to correct such errors. The office is also committed to facilitating access to post-conviction DNA testing for viable innocence claims. To that end, the District Attorney formed a Conviction Integrity Committee. The Conviction Integrity Review Process has been devised to minimize the impact of cognitive biases and respond to claims of wrongful convictions in a fair, efficient, and comprehensive manner. The Committee reviews claims raised by G. L. c. 278A motions, Rule 30 motions for new trial that include a claim of factual innocence, or through letter to the District Attorney’s Office by a convicted defendant, or an attorney who represented or currently represents a convicted defendant, that alleges a wrongful conviction.
District Court is the gateway to the justice system. It is where the vast majority of criminal cases in Massachusetts are handled. The district courts have jurisdiction over all misdemeanors, including drug offenses, weapons offenses and motor vehicle offenses.
Community Prosecution is a pro-active, solutions-based approach to justice where prosecutors are both a representative of and a leader in a community. Community prosecutors reach out to community groups, schools, faith-based groups and other community organizations to identify concerns and prioritize strategies for addressing them, working with local and state police and other government agencies to share intelligence, strategize, and support.
Domestic Violence is a behavior used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship. It can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological. Domestic Violence also includes abuse between individuals related by blood or that live in the same household. The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit specializes in the prosecution of cases involving family, partner or household violence. The unit also provides domestic violence prosecution and prevention trainings for law enforcement, battered women's advocates and community groups.
The Juvenile Justice Unit works to reduce youth violence and crime using a coordinated community approach which includes early intervention and prevention. In addition, when appropriate, the unit handles those serious juvenile cases who are indicted as Youthful Offenders, thus making them open to full adult criminal prosecution.
Restorative Justice is an integral part of the Northwestern District Attorney's justice practices. It is a theory of justice that emphasizes repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior. Restorative justice offers an opportunity to hold individuals accountable for their actions in a manner that helps the individuals understand the impact of their actions on others and their community while seeking to make things as right as possible for those that have been impacted. The practice also helps offenders build skills and gain understanding to help reduce the likelihood of reoffending in the future.
Sexual Assault is a devastating crime with far-reaching consequences. Assailants can be strangers, acquaintances, friends, or family members. The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit works collaboratively with the police to investigate and prosecute crimes involving a sexual assault on an adult (18 years of age or older). Unit staff also work jointly with local rape crisis agencies, medical providers, and law enforcement officers to raise awareness of sexual assault, prevent future incidents of sexual violence, and create and utilize victim-centered, trauma-informed approaches to responding to reports of sexual assault.
The State Police Detective Unit investigates major felonies and handles special investigations in the jurisdiction. The State Police Narcotics Unit works closely with the Detective Unit, local police and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute drug cases in the jurisdiction.
The Child Sexual Predator Project was launched in November 2011 and is funded by a United States Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant. It is an initiative of the Northwestern District Attorney's Office which seeks to protect children from sexual predators through the use of computer forensics, investigation, prosecution and education.
Superior Court is the court in which major felonies such as murder, robbery, drug trafficking and serious crimes of violence and abuse are prosecuted. These types of cases must first be presented to a Grand Jury, which issues indictments charging defendants with these serious crimes.
The Consumer Protection Unit works in cooperation with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office to mediate individual consumer disputes and investigate complaints of unfair or deceptive business practices.
The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit specializes in the prosecution of cases involving family, partner or household violence. The unit provides domestic violence prosecution and prevention trainings for law enforcement, battered women's advocates and community groups.
TRIAD is a local community crime prevention partnership of elders, law enforcement and human service providers. It aims to reduce criminal victimization of elders through education and to enhance the delivery of law enforcement services. The program is coordinated an supported by the joint efforts of District Attorney David E. Sullivan, Hampshire County Sheriff Robert J. Garvey and Franklin County Sheriff Christopher J. Donelan; local police departments and Councils on Aging.
Drug Drop-Off Boxes - Do you have unwanted or out-of-date drugs in your home? Get them out of the medicine cabinet, away from children and potential drug abusers -- and out of the environment. You can safely and anonymously drop them off in a secure MedReturn Box, located at one of 16 local police stations, and they will be disposed of in an environmentally sound way. Prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamins and veterinary meds are accepted. NO liquids, syringes, IV equipment or chemotherapy drugs, please.
Campaign to End Sexual Assault on Campuses - "Consent: The Difference Between Sex and Rape" is a multimedia campaign designed by the NWDA and our media consultants to increase reporting of and to end sexual assault on campuses.
Returned checks - What to do if you are the recipient of a "bad" check.
Text-a-tip - Anyone can do the right thing! Text-a-tip allows citizens to help solve crimes by ANONYMOUSLY dialing 274637 on their cell phones and typing KIDSAFE or PROTECT followed by a tip. (In emergency situations, dial 911.)
Veterans Justice - Offers resources and referrals to veterans entering the criminal justice system.
White Ribbon Campaign - Join DA Sullivan and thousands of men in the community by taking the White Ribbon Pledge to end violence against women and girls.
Youth Substance Abuse Prevention - The NWDA is actively engaged in educating young people about the dangers and consequences of substance abuse prevention. Along with our community partners, we sponsor conferences every year, held at Greenfield Community College, University of Massachusetts and other locations.