Criminal Law Division, Section Descriptions

Division of Criminal Law | State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General

Division of Criminal Law | State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General Skip to main content Division of Criminal Law Home Careers Career Opportunities Division of Criminal Law The mission of the Division of Criminal Law is to uphold the Attorney General’s constitutional responsibility to represent the People of California in criminal cases. Our Division is organized into the following four sections: Appeals, Writs and Trials handles post-conviction proceedings, including prosecuting felony criminal appeals in state court and representing the state in habeas corpus cases brought in federal court. Deputies also handle criminal investigations, conduct evidentiary hearings, and prosecute felonies in cases in which the local district attorney has been recused. Deputies appear regularly in the California Court of Appeal, California Supreme Court, United States District Court, and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Correctional Writs & Appeals handles post-conviction proceedings for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Board of Parole Hearings, and the Governor. This section defends the policies of the state’s prison system and ensures convicted felons serve their sentences. Deputies also litigate challenges to conditions of confinement and parole in habeas corpus, mandate, and appellate proceedings brought by incarcerated persons and parolees. They appear regularly in the superior and appellate courts, including the California Supreme Court, and, to a more limited extent, the United States District Courts and the Ninth Circuit. Cybercrime Section investigates and prosecutes multi-jurisdictional cases involving identity theft, cyber-crime, and criminal activity involving the use of electronic devices or networks. The Section also participates in regional high-tech task forces and provides training and support to local agencies on technology-related crime issues. Special Prosecutions Section investigates and prosecutes complex criminal cases occurring in California, primarily related to financial, securities, mortgage, and environmental fraud; public corruption, including violations of California’s Political Reform Act; “underground economy” offenses, including tax and revenue fraud and counterfeiting; and human trafficking. Vertical teams of prosecutors, investigators, auditors, and paralegals often work with federal and local authorities on cases involving multi-jurisdictional criminal activity.