Cases Reviewed

Criminal cases come to OAG from law enforcement agencies that have arrest powers. They fall into two different categories:  arrests and arrest warrant requests.

After OAG reviews an arrest, it decides whether to prosecute—i.e., file criminal charges—based on the evidence and circumstances of the case. To prosecute a case, attorneys at OAG must determine that the case is supported by probable cause, meaning that knowledge of the facts of the case would cause a reasonable person to believe that it is more probable than not that the individual has committed a crime. To secure a conviction in a case, OAG must be able to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. OAG may decide not to prosecute a case for a variety of reasons, including because it has insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, the case is eligible for diversion or deferred prosecution, or as an exercise of its prosecutorial discretion. If OAG determines that there is probable cause to prosecute a case, OAG may still decide to divert the case from standard prosecution before or after the case is filed or “papered.”

OAG reviews arrest warrant requests from law enforcement when a law enforcement officer believes there is probable cause to arrest an individual for a crime. OAG attorneys review the evidence and circumstances of the case and make an independent judgment whether there is probable cause for arrest.  If there is not, OAG will not approve the warrant. OAG may also decline a warrant request for other reasons or as an exercise of its prosecutorial discretion.

Glossary

Dashboard Filters

Charge Categories: Broad classification of the offense(s) on a case. The charges entered may be the charges the person was arrested for or the charges filed by OAG. The charge categories consist of:

  • Court Order Violation: Includes condition of release violation; violation of criminal protection or stay away order; and failure to appear.
  • Fraudulent Activity: Includes false information, personation, representation, or statements; false report to the police; tax-related offenses; and welfare fraud.
  • Quality of Life Offenses: Includes crowding, obstructing, or incommoding; crossing police lines; defacing public toilets; disorderly conduct; drinking in public or intoxication; gambling; public consumption of marijuana; metro-related offenses; panhandling; possession of open container of alcohol; purchasing or providing alcohol to a minor; and vending offenses.
  • Traffic Offenses: Includes driving under the influence or operating while impaired; driving with no permit; misuse of tags; altered or counterfeit tags; failure to obey; failure to exhibit permit or registration; leaving after collision; operating after revocation or suspension; operating ATV or dirt bike; reckless or aggravated reckless driving; and speed in excess of 30 mph over limit.
  • Victim Offenses: Includes failure to pay wages; failure to report abuse; indecent exposure; proposal to a minor; lewd, indecent, or obscene acts; and tampering with automobile or bicycle.
  • Weapons Offenses: Includes possession of unregistered firearm or ammunition; possession of BB gun; failure to holster or notify of concealed carry; carrying a pistol in a prohibited location or manner; and discharging a firearm without a permit.
  • Other: All other offenses, including illegal presence in a building, fire code violations, failure to post/exhibit business license, fishing without a license, misrepresentation of age to procure alcohol, unlawful demonstration, and violation of stay-at-home order during Covid-19 pandemic emergency.

Charges: Type of offense(s) on a case. The charges entered on a case may be the charges the person was arrested for or the charges filed by OAG. 

Gender: Gender of defendant reported by the arresting agency. Only female, male, and unknown categories are available to be reported.

Race/Ethnicity: Race/ethnicity of defendant reported by the arresting agency. Because race and ethnicity are not reported consistently, these have been combined into a single measure, where an individual of any race with Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is recorded as Hispanic/Latino.

OAG Decisions

Cases Prosecuted: Cases where OAG has decided to file criminal charges against an individual arrested for an alleged incident.

Cases Not Prosecuted: Cases where OAG has decided not to file criminal charges against an individual arrested for an alleged incident.

Warrant Requests Approved: Arrest warrant requests approved by OAG, which permit law enforcement to seek court approval to issue an arrest warrant and execute an arrest.

Judicial Summons Approved: Arrest warrant requests where OAG declines the request but requests that the court issue a judicial summons, where a notice is sent to the defendant to appear in court after OAG files charges.

Warrant Requests Declined: Arrest warrant requests declined by OAG where law enforcement cannot seek a judicial arrest warrant to execute an arrest.