About the Division

The Criminal Division of the Department of Justice is responsible for the prosecution of criminal cases throughout the State from misdemeanors to murders. Its mission is to represent the State in criminal cases, and in so doing safeguard the human rights of victims and their families and the constitutional rights of defendants. This responsibility includes the preparation and presentation of criminal cases before the Superior Court, the Court of Common Pleas, and in some matters before the Justice of the Peace Courts. The Criminal Division also provides legal assistance to other law enforcement agencies and administers the Victim/Witness Assistance Program. The Division is managed by the State Prosecutor, AJ Roop, who is appointed by the Attorney General. The Criminal Division maintains offices in each of Delaware’s three counties. Each of the county offices is headed by a County Prosecutor, who is appointed by the Attorney General and reports through the State Prosecutor. In New Castle County, the office includes the Homicide Unit, New Castle County Felony Trial Unit, Wilmington Trial Unit, Child Predator Unit, Felony Screening Unit, Misdemeanor Trial Unit and Violent Criminal Enterprise Unit. In Kent and Sussex Counties the office is organized into a Felony Trial Unit, a Felony Screening Unit and a Misdemeanor Trial Unit. The Appeals Unit, Community Engagement Unit, Domestic Violence Unit, Special Victims Unit, and Traffic Safety Unit are statewide.

Division Highlights

Special Victims Unit

The Special Victims Unit (“SVU”) handles cases that involve some of our most vulnerable victims we serve. The SVU puts those responsible for cases dealing with sex crimes, child victims and child predators into a single unit led by the SVU Head.

The Sex Crimes Unit, under the umbrella of the SVU, prosecutes all sex offenders. The Unit is comprised of Deputy Attorneys General, social workers, paralegals, and administrative assistants. The social workers participate in the interviews with police officers and victims and act as liaisons between victims and the Unit’s prosecutors. The social workers also assist victims in applying to the Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program (“VCAP”) for compensation.

The Child Predator Unit, also under the SVU umbrella, employs dedicated investigative and prosecutorial resources to identify, pursue, prosecute and punish criminals who seek to prey on Delaware’s children. With specially trained and dedicated staff, the Child Predator Unit works collaboratively with the Delaware State Police and other agencies in a proactive effort to identify and track down predators and pedophiles before they can harm our children.