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Over the last few months, our office noticed that a significant number of defendants eligible for the felony diversion program were not enrolling, causing them to re-enter into an already overburdened court system. In a collaborative effort by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, and SAGE Counseling Inc., a SAGE Counseling office has opened at the South Court Tower location of the Maricopa County Superior Court. The main goal of this office is to ensure eligible defendants sign up for their prospective felony diversion program right after their court appointment, instead of at a later date. Eligibility for the felony diversion program is determined by the Deputy County Attorney assigned to the defendant’s case and offered during a defendant’s first court appearance or Early Disposition Court.
Staff at the SAGE Counseling office will review the process with the defendant and go over all the information about the program. They will also ensure the defendant has access to the SAGE Counseling client portal, help them complete the forms in the portal, start the financial assessment process, and schedule a time for additional assessments. The office officially opened on January 17th, and since then has had a total of 58 defendants use its services. The office is located on the 2nd Floor of the courthouse in rooms 2383 and 2384, and is open from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday.
Thank you to all the attorneys and staff at the Public Defender’s Office and SAGE Counseling for their help getting this office up and running!
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Maricopa County Career Fair
 Are you looking for a career change? Want to make a difference in your community? Then join us at the inaugural Maricopa County Career Fair and Community Expo on Wednesday, February 15th at Chase Field from 11 am to 7 pm! Stop by to learn about exciting career opportunities, County programs and services, free on-site vaccinations, dog adoptions, and much more!
For those interested in career opportunities, make sure to bring your resumes! We will be conducting on-site interviews and making job offers. It's recommended that you apply ahead of time, visit our careers page and apply for the jobs with the label "Expo".
Future of Justice: MCAO High School Mentorship Program
 MCAO hosted Desert Vista High School students interested in learning about our office and looking to pursue a career in criminal justice. Students were paired up with prosecutors and learned about their work and the career path they took to get to MCAO. Students then went to visit South Court Tower, sit in on a trial, and meet with Judge Green! They also got to meet with County Attorney Rachel Mitchell and network with other prosecutors in the office. We hope to see them back here one day as MCAO employees!
A Barking Good Time: Celebrating our Victim Support K-9s
 Did you know the Maricopa County Attorney's Office was one of the first prosecutorial agencies to have a K-9 Victim Support program?
The criminal justice system can be confusing and stressful for crime victims, our team of support K-9s lend a helping paw to victims during interviews, case meetings, and in court. This month, we hosted an appreciation event to thank our furry, four-legged co-workers for all they do!
  Human Trafficking Awareness Month
 The biggest myth about human trafficking is that it begins with a stranger kidnapping a victim. While that does occur, the majority of the time victims are lured and manipulated into trafficking situations by someone they know. Traffickers target vulnerable people who are in need of something they can provide whether it be material needs, a job, or emotional support.This multi-billion dollar criminal industry denies freedom to millions of people around the world.
Understanding what human trafficking looks like is the first step in helping end it. With the Super Bowl and other large scale events coming to the Valley this month, it's important that we all get involved and learn what to look for.
Identity Theft Awareness Week
 Identity theft affects millions of people in the U.S. every year! As this crime continues to become more prevalent and schemes become more sophisticated, it's hard to know what to look for in protecting your identity. Lucky for you, MCAO offers FREE presentations on scams, fraud, and identity theft. Request a presentation today and learn how to protect yourself and your family from identity theft.
Catalytic Converter Etching Event
 West Valley! Join us for a catalytic converter etching event this Sunday, February 5th at the Midas Auto Repair in Peoria. All vehicles will receive an etching of the last 5 digits of their VIN number, license plate number, and be spray painted orange.
Why etch your catalytic converter? Etching a catalytic converter helps law enforcement track and return the converter to its owner in the event it is stolen and recovered. This also helps the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in the prosecution of those stealing catalytic converters.
 NDAA Job Fair
 MCAO prosecutors and County Attorney Rachel Mitchell joined over 50 prosecutorial agencies at the National District Attorney Association's inaugural job fair in Washington D.C. Our office is currently recruiting prosecutors and attorneys for entry and senior level positions.
Did you know law students who are beginning their last semester of law school can apply for the Prosecutor I position? If accepted into the office, the student will receive a conditional offer based on their Bar exam results. Once the student finishes school and takes the Bar exam, they will join MCAO as a law clerk and be assigned to a bureau where they will be trained for the Prosecutor I position.
Ready kickstart your career? Find out why MCAO is a great place to launch your legal career.
Victim Services Donates Blankets to Human Services Campus
 With all the cold weather we've had recently, our Victim Services Division thought of those experiencing homelessness and stepped up to collect new and gently used blankets to donate to the Human Services Campus in Downtown Phoenix.
Community Outreach
 Our community affairs coordinators and staff have been busy talking to community members, providing educational presentations and much more. See what events we have scheduled this Spring.
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