Criminal Division
Neighborhood Prosecution Unit (NPU)
Neighborhood Prosecution Unit
Office of the City Attorney
1200 Third Ave., Suite 700
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 533-5500
Email: cityattorney@sandiego.gov
The Neighborhood Prosecution Unit, in partnership with the San Diego Police Department, other agencies, and the community, works aggressively and creatively to combat crimes that reduce the quality of life in San Diego neighborhoods. These include, but are not limited to prostitution, graffiti, disturbing the peace, vandalism, alcohol and drug offenses, gang offenses, and transient crimes. Neighborhood prosecutors manage traditional misdemeanor prosecution such as trials, evidentiary hearings, motions, legal research, and issuing while working in targeted neighborhoods side-by-side with police officers and community members on problem-solving initiatives. Neighborhood prosecutors attend community meetings to listen to the concerns of community members, develop and implement innovative strategies to prevent crime and educate the public, provide information and training to police officers on prosecutorial issues, and propose new legislation to help solve problems in the community. In addition, the unit developed and currently manages five problem-solving community courts: Downtown Community Court, Mid-City Community Court, Beach Area Community Court, Homeless Court, and the Behavioral Health Court Calendar. The goal of the unit is to create a more responsive and community-oriented criminal justice system, and it is nationally recognized for its efforts.