Ramsey County Attorney outlines charging process, diversion programs and University Avenue case work

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi told the St. Paul Public Safety Committee on a July meeting that charging decisions depend on evidence and prosecutorial discretion, and that diversion and treatment options are often preferred to conviction for low-level offenses.

Choi said prosecutors are not the investigative agency and rely on police referrals. "The prosecutor is not, an investigative agency," Choi said, adding that police typically investigate, arrest or issue citations and then present cases to prosecutors. He described Minnesota’s jurisdictional split between city attorneys (who handle most misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors) and county attorneys (who handle felonies).

Choi also described the use of alternatives to prosecution for cases involving mental health or addiction. "Sometimes we have to acknowledge that processing somebody through the system is not actually the most effective," he said. Choi said Ramsey County diverts many cases and that diversion caseloads can include about 400 people…