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The primary job of the McPherson County Attorney’s Office is to help protect the safety of the citizens of McPherson County by the vigorous prosecution of crime, providing appropriate services to crime victims, and advocacy for crime prevention.
The County Attorney’s Office is responsible for prosecuting crimes that are committed in McPherson County. All juvenile criminal offenses are handled through the County Attorney’s Office as well as all adult criminal cases at the felony level, bad checks, and misdemeanor or traffic offenses committed in cities or towns of McPherson County that are not covered by municipal ordinances. In addition to prosecution of crimes, the Office also handles Child in Need of Care (CINC) cases, Involuntary Commitments for Alcohol or Mental problems, Victim/Witness Services, and a Diversion Program for first-time offenders.
Staff
McPherson County Attorney David Page
Chief Deputy County Attorney Andrew R. Davidson is a graduate of Washburn University School of Law and the University of Kansas. Andrew practiced primarily in Shawnee County before joining the McPherson County's Attorney's Office.
Deputy County Attorney Jamie L. Karasek is a graduate of Washburn University School of Law and Colorado State University. Jamie served as a research attorney with the Kansas Court of Appeals and an assistant district attorney in Shawnee County before joining the McvPherson County Attorney's Office.
Victim/Witness Coordinator: Alisha Cooper
Diversion Coordinator: Jennifer Akins
Office Manager/Legal Secretary: Dianna Britting
Legal Secretary: Kathy Miley
Traffic Offenses
Traffic offenses that are committed in McPherson County either on interstate, state, or county roads that are not subject to city ordinances, are prosecuted by the McPherson County Attorney’s Office. The long-standing policy of the County Attorney is that there are no reductions of charges in traffic offenses. Diversion may be offered for some traffic violations, for further information, please see Diversion Program.
Bad Checks
Victims of Worthless (Bad) Checks: see documents: For further information, click on Victim/Witness Services or call the Victim/Witness Coordinator at 620-241-1027. Bad Check Offenders may be eligible for the Diversion Program. For further information, see Diversion Program.
Victim/Witness Coordinator
The Victim/Witness Coordinator is an advocate for victims of crime whose tasks include: notifying victims that cases are filed in court or prosecution is declined; notifying and sending subpoenas to victims and witnesses for court hearings; accompanying victims to court when needed; assisting with restitution and working with the victim’s service providers, insurance companies, and the Attorney General’s Compensation Board; preparing worthless check cases for prosecution or diversion. For more Information, policies and forms, click on Victim/Witness Services or call the Coordinator at 620-241-1027
Involuntary Commitments
If, based upon law enforcement investigation and/or physician’s statement, a person is believed to be mentally ill or have an alcohol or substance abuse problem and, because of such, is likely to cause harm to self or others if allowed to remain at liberty, the County Attorney’s Office may file a petition with the court to require an evaluation by a treatment facility. For more information, call the County Attorney’s Office at 620-241-1027
Child In Need of Care Cases (CINC)
A Child in Need of Care is a person less than 18 years of age who is without adequate parental care; or who has been physically, mentally, or emotionally abused or neglected; or who has been abandoned; or who is not attending school as required by law; or who is a runaway from home or court-ordered placement. The County Attorney’s Office, in coordination with law enforcement and/or child welfare agencies, prepares and files the petition alleging a child to be a CINC and to appear at all hearings on the petition. A CINC case may be resolved with or without court action by a range of possible dispositions, such as temporary placement outside the home, or up to and including, termination of parental rights.
Diversion Program
A pre-trial diversion program mandated by Kansas statute is offered to both adult and juvenile offenders in McPherson County. Diversion serves the ends of justice as it provides offenders with a supervisory period while keeping them out of the court system and giving them a second chance to have a clean record.
Applications for diversion are available for :
Criminal
Juvenile
Traffic
For more information about the Diversion Program please feel free to contact the Diversion Coordinator at 620-241-1027.
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