Big Stone
County
Attorney

Mailing Address: 37
Second Street Northwest
Ortonville,
MN 56278
Telephone: (320)839-6198
FAX: (320)839-6154
E-mail: bwatson@watsonlawoffice.net
STAFF: William J. Watson, Big Stone County
Attorney
1991 to present
The County
Attorney is an elected official with a
“juris doctor” degree and licensed to practice law in
the State of Minnesota. The duties of the County Attorney
are as follows:
CIVIL ADVICE
The County
Attorney is the legal advisor for the County Board
of Commissioners, and all county departments and agencies. As the legal advisor for the county, the County Attorney
serves in a role that is similar to that of an in-house corporate counsel. The County Attorney
provides legal advice to the county board and county departments to assist the
county in providing many public services, such as child protection and
protection of vulnerable adults, defending challenges to property tax values,
representing the Family Service Department on welfare appeals, collecting
medical assistance liens, and prosecution of welfare fraud cases. The County Attorney
drafts ordinances for the county, and is responsible for enforcing all county
ordinances, as well as forfeiting property used in connection with criminal
activity. In addition, the County Attorney’s
office assists the county in buying property; negotiating leases and contracts;
and in defending against personal injury, workers’ compensation, employment,
civil rights and other lawsuits.
ADULT PROSECUTION
The County Attorney
is the chief prosecutor for crimes which occur within a county. Prosecution involves bringing charges against
a party, trying the case in court and making sentencing recommendations. The County Attorney
prosecutes felony offenses (crimes which carry a penalty of more than one year
in prison). Examples of these crimes
include murder, sexual assault, drug offenses and child abuse. Misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors, which
are less serious crimes, are also prosecuted by the County Attorney.
JUVENILE
PROSECUTION
The County Attorney
is the prosecutor in all cases involving juvenile offenders. These range from curfew violations to the most
serious felony criminal behavior. The County Attorney
oversees the diversion programs which allow minor offenders to receive
consequences without going to court.
These programs are intended to reduce repeat offenses. While a goal of juvenile court is the
rehabilitation of offenders, due to public safety concerns, the County Attorney
may ask the court to certify the juvenile to stand trial as an adult. Upon conviction, the juvenile could then
receive all potential adult sanctions, including a prison sentence.
VICTIM/WITNESS
ASSISTANCE
The County Attorney
provides assistance and support to the victims and witnesses who play a vital
role in the criminal justice system. This
will include advising crime victims of their legal rights and requesting
restitution for losses suffered.
FAMILY SERVICES
The County Attorney
initiates CHIPS (Child in Need of Protection or Services) petitions to protect
abused or neglected children in the county.
The County
Attorney starts legal
proceedings to protect the health and safety of vulnerable adults within the
county when they are in need of assistance.
The County
Attorney also files
involuntary commitment actions to provide necessary treatment for individuals
who are mentally ill, chemically dependent, or mentally retarded. Whenever federal and cash assistance is paid
to families with children, the county attorney brings actions to obtain or enforce
child support obligations, or to establish the paternity of a child, in order
to obtain reimbursement for assistance and other costs to the taxpayers. In addition, the County Attorney
is responsible for prosecution of welfare fraud, and assists with the
collection of medical assistance liens.
PURSUANT
IMPROVEMENT AND PREVENTION
The County Attorney
plays an important role in seeking new laws to strengthen law enforcement,
criminal justice, child protection, victims’ rights and other areas. The County Attorney
also participates in efforts to prevent or reduce crime in the local
communities and statewide.