Mission Statement

The mission of the Ramsey County State’s Attorney’s Office is to achieve justice, public safety, and effective government by prosecuting criminals, providing legal advice to county boards and commissioners and representing Ramsey County.

The State's Attorney department is responsible for prosecuting all criminal matters, as well as juvenile delinquencies, child deprivations and parental termination; providing legal service to county departments; representing petitioners in mental health commitments; and provide guidance and training to law enforcement agencies within Ramsey County. 

Services

• Prosecution of Criminals in District Court
• Juvenile Matters
• Mental Health Commitments

Responsibilities

The State’s Attorney’s Office is primarily a prosecuting agency representing the citizens of Ramsey County and the victim(s) of crimes.

The office handles:

• Child Support Enforcement
• Felony
• Infraction
• Juvenile Court Matters
• Mental Health Hearings
• Misdemeanor
• Traffic Cases

The State’s Attorney is legal counselor for all county officials and chief prosecuting officer of the county. The State’s Attorney is an elected official who stands for election every four years.

If someone feels that he is the victim of a crime (as opposed to a civil matter) they should report it to law enforcement for investigation. If the crime occurred in city limits it should be reported to the Devils Lake Police Department at 701-662-0700. If the crime occurred in Ramsey County it should be reported to the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department at 701-662-0700. After the investigation is complete, the State’s Attorney’s Office will review the matter and make a determination whether criminal charges will be filed and what the charges will be. The Victim/Witness Coordinator will notify victims of any upcoming court proceedings or open plea recommendations pertaining to their case. There is no fee for any services of the State’s Attorney’s Office.

Please note: state law prohibits the State's Attorney from advising persons on private matters. Civil matters should be handled by a private attorney.