In the traditional sense, the office is charged with the prosecution of offenders in the criminal justice system, however, it has become increasingly more necessary to not only recognize that punishment of offenders is appropriate, but that victims of crime should be afforded protection and consideration in making the criminal justice system viable for our community. To this end, District Attorney Foulston has established specialized prosecution units in the traditional prosecution office that not only participate in trial of offenders, but that are also intricately involved in victim assistance, crime prevention and intervention issues. It is the policy of this office, through responsible recruitment, to hire qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national original, sex, age, religious affiliation, or disability. Prosecutors are attorneys licensed to practice law in the State of Kansas and must have successfully graduated from an accredited law school and have passed the Kansas Bar Examination in addition to possessing credentials demonstrating proficiency and professionalism. With forty-six attorneys comprising the staff of this office, there is a wealth of over 360 years of legal experience.
Prosecutors come from all backgrounds and from all areas of the country.
Many of the prosecutors are graduates of Kansas schools of higher education and Kansas law schools, however, other prosecutors come to this jurisdiction from New York, New Jersey, and North Dakota. Prosecutors, like all members of the community, have a special and abiding interest in the quality of life for all citizens. They have chosen prosecution as a career that makes a difference in the lives of others and one where they can contribute something special to the community in which they live. This unit, supervised by Chief Appellate Attorney Debra S. Peterson, is responsible for all of the appeals of criminal and certain civil cases that originate in this jurisdiction including independent civil actions challenging convictions in the District Court. In addition, this division handles a number of appeals in federal court and has participated in the case of State of Kansas v. Leroy Hendricks that was heard before the United States Supreme Court that upheld the Kansas Sexual Predator law as constitutional.