Three Term Report of Circuit Attorney Jennifer M.

Joyce

Citizen involvement in crime prevention efforts is critical. I know that an informed and engaged community is the best tool law enforcement officials have for keeping our City safe. Jennifer Joyce

s your Circuit Attorney, I am committed to ensuring that the Circuit Attorneys Office (CAO) serves as an advocate for justice for the citizens of the City of St. Louis. I am proud of the accomplishments of the Circuit Attorneys Office and the contributions of its employees. We have created respectful and credible partnerships; efficiently used tax dollars to achieve just, fair results; influenced legislation for an effective criminal justice system; and attracted and retained top legal professionals. In keeping with tradition like Circuit Attorneys in the past, I submit this Three Term Report to the community. During the past decade, despite limited resources, my experienced team and I have successfully held tens of thousands of criminals accountable while aiding our partners

in the criminal justice system in the prevention of crime. The CAO is one of the largest law firms in the St. Louis area, employing more than 60 attorneys, 35 investigators, and 10 victim services case managers, plus a 38-member support staff. Per year, we press charges on approximately 4,000 felony cases (involving crimes punishable by more than a year in prison) and 3,000 to 7,000 misdemeanor cases (involving crimes punishable by less than a year in jail.) Jury trial convictions climbed from 68 percent to 79 percent in the past decade. The Felony Trial Attorneys have worked on more than 1,600 felony jury trials since 2001 and prosecute

more than 3,000 cases annually. The Misdemeanors Team has handled about 55,000 criminal cases in the past ten years, averaging 5,500 annually. The Child Support Unit has collected over $30 million in back child support that is vital to the well-being of our Citys children. Citizen involvement in crime prevention efforts is critical. I know that an informed and engaged community is the best tool law enforcement officials have for keeping our City safe. For this reason, the Circuit Attorneys Office partners with community and neighborhood stakeholders, and together we work to make St. Louis safer. I believe that crime victims deserve relentless

advocacy. The Victim Services Unit provides that advocacy, including counseling and support, to more than 3,800 victims each year. The Victim Services Units effectiveness is unrivaled in Missouri. Bolstered by the support of a dedicated, talented, hardworking staff and thousands of law enforcement officers, victims, witnesses, jurors and the courts, I have had the privilege of serving the people of this great City as Circuit Attorney for over a decade. I am steadfast in my determination that the Circuit Attorneys Office will continue to safeguard the rights of individuals and help protect the citizens of St. Louis. I am honored by and grateful for the opportunity to serve as your Circuit Attorney.

Jennifer M. Joyce

CONTENTS
Message from the Circuit Attorney pages 1 & 2 Criminal Prosecution in the City of St. Louis pages 3 & 4 Defending Childhood pages 5 & 6 Justice for Victims of Violence pages 7, 8, 9 & 10 Prosecuting Drug Dealers, Rehabilitating Addicts pages 11 & 12 Combating Con Men and White Collar Crooks pages 13 & 14 A Commitment to Victims: Victim Services Unit pages 15 & 16 Conviction Integrity: Past, Present and Future pages 17 & 18 Community Partnerships pages 19 & 20
Photographs herein depict some of the current and former employees who provided dediated service to the Circuit Attorneys Office over the past twelve years.

Criminal Prosecution in the City

On October 5, 2009, nurse and mother of two Gina Stallis lay sleeping near her 7-year-old son when two armed men forced their way into the LaSalle Park home where they were staying. One of the intruders, 16-year-old LeDale Nathan, woke Stallis, 34, and forced her to carry a television down to the first floor while her two children and their grandmother and great-grandmother remained upstairs. Lying face down on the first floor, held at gunpoint by 22-year-old Mario Coleman, were firefighter Nicholas Koenig, Stallis
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cousin, and his friend, offduty police officer Isabella Lovadina. Coleman and Nathan took money, a wallet, and jewelry in addition to the television. They terrorized the victims and threatened to shoot them. The pair discussed forcing all five adults into the basement but decided instead to take Stallis there first. Lovadina volunteered to go in her place and, once up off the floor, charged Coleman. Koenig tackled Nathan. During the fight that ensued, Lovadina was shot five times, sustaining wounds to the chest, face and legs, and Koenig was shot three times. One bullet struck Stallis, entering her cheek and hitting several major organs as it passed through her torso. Lovadina and Koenig survived. Stallis did not. Nathan, who had been struck in the finger by a

bullet, was arrested after he sought treatment at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and Coleman was arrested soon thereafter. Working with the St. Louis Police Department, prosecutors built cases against the pair. Both suspects were charged with First-Degree Murder, Robbery, Armed Criminal Action, Assault and Kidnapping. Nathan was certified to stand trial as an adult. In April 2011 Nathan was found guilty by jury of all twenty-six charges against him, including First-Degree Murder. In December 2011 a jury convicted Coleman of First-Degree Murder and found him guilty on 25 other felony counts. Both Coleman and Nathan were sentenced to Life without Parole by Circuit Judge Robert Dierker. A team of prosecutors from the Career Criminals

Unit, investigators, paralegals and victim support staff successfully prosecuted Coleman and Nathan. Although their convictions cannot bring back the life of Gina Stallis, the sentences ensure these two criminals will be justly punished. s the chief prosecutor for the City of St. Louis, Jennifer Joyce represents the people of the City against those who stand accused of breaking Missouris criminal laws. The Circuit Attorney works with lawyers, investigators, victim advocates and support staff to protect the public by holding criminals accountable for their actions. Operating a Successful Prosecutors Office Under Joyces leadership, the professionals in

 Child Support Unit

CAO Organizational Divisions

Community Affairs Bureau Felony Trial Teams Misdemeanors Team Victim Services Unit Warrant Office
the Circuit Attoneys Office have netted positive results for the community. Crime in the City is down. The CAO has forged community partnerships, championed victims and worked to combat juvenile crime, domestic violence and gang and gun violence. All offenders, regardless of status or income, are prosecuted within the laws of the State of Missouri, and each victim is treated with respect and dignity by our office. Team Based Approach Makes the Most of Taxpayer Dollars In 2009, the Circuit Attorneys Office was reorganized into teams based on legal concepts to make the most of taxpayer dollars and to put Federal and State grants to work as efficiently as possible. To ensure that citizens are getting an efficient and professional prosecutors office in exchange for their tax dollars, in 2004 Joyce adopted a performancebased management system. Managers work with employees on skill development and goal-setting with the aim of obtaining the best possible performance from each employee. Mindful that public safety and educational programs are important in preventing crime and involving the community in making neighborhoods safe, Joyce has sought and won grants for the St. Louis area to combat gangs, provide support for crime victims and implement communitybased prosecution for more successful outcomes. Gangs From 2003 to 2007, grants funded the Project Sentry Gang Strikeforce. CAO prosecutors and investigators partnered with juvenile court prosecutors, community groups, probation and parole officers and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department detectives to identify gang members, hold them accountable for their crimes and thwart future criminal activity. Victim Support The Victim Services Unit (VSU) obtained grant

The Circuit Attorneys Office has a 98 percent overall conviction rate. In addition to victims, the Victim Services Unit annually assists an average of 500 witness and citizen referrals. The Warrant Office reviews approximately 19,000 cases per year.
funding to enhance prosecution of domestic violence cases and provide services to victims of this cyclical crime. The VSU is a statewide leader in victim advocacy and support. Community-based Prosecution The Office obtained grant funding that allowed for the establishment of community-based prosecutors in St. Louis neighborhoods. For well over a decade, grant-funded community-based prosecutors have been assigned to various areas of the City, including the Walnut Park, Mark Twain/OFallon, Forest Park Southeast, Jeff-Vander-Lou and Dutchtown neighborhoods. Prosecutors have periodically been assigned to all three police patrols and have attended and participated in hundreds of neighborhood meetings and prevention efforts. In 2007, the Circuit Attorneys Office formalized its emphasis on the community with the creation of the Community Affairs Bureau.

Did You Know...?

Circuit Attorney Jennifer M. Joyce with former elected St. Louis Circuit Attorneys at a reception held in honor of the CAOs 2002 move from the municipal courts building to the Carnahan Courthouse. Upper row: Brendan Ryan, Dan Reardon, Jennifer M. Joyce, Richard Swatek, Dee JoyceHayes. Lower Row: Thomas Eagleton, Edward Dowd, George Peach.

Defending Childhood
It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. Frederick Douglass
Daniel Wilson was supposed to be caring for his 7-month-old son, D.W. The boys mother had gone to work, leaving Daniel in charge. But the next time she saw her son, he was clinging to life in intensive care, suffering from severe brain damage and other injuries inflicted in a savage beating. Wilsons explanation for how his son came to suffer head trauma trauma so severe that the child had to be placed in a medically induced coma, with a shunt surgically inserted into his brain to reduce pressure changed continually. It 5 was only when the infant, also suffering from abdominal trauma and serious bruises, was removed from life support and died that Wilson finally confessed. Wilson reported he had emerged from the shower to D.W.s cries. Upon checking the child, he was irritated to discover that D.W.s diaper was soiled. The baby squirmed as Wilson tried to change the diaper, Wilson claimed, and as a result he accidentally dropped D.W. twice on his head. Wilson bent the stillcrying child over and kneed him twice in the back of the head, screaming, Are you

happy now? Because D.W. continued to cry, Wilson told investigators, he kept beating the baby, smacking him in the back of the head several times and kneeing him in the back of the head once more. Wilson then began shaking D.W., banging his head on the floor. Finally, he said, D.W. went out cold. When paramedics arrived, D.W. was unresponsive, his breathing labored. They observed signs of severe brain damage. The Circuit Attorneys Office charged Wilson with the Class A Felony of Murder in the Second Degree for knowingly causing D.W.s death by striking the child. Wilson received a life sentence for his horrific crime. s this chilling narrative emphasizes, children

are vulnerable but the Circuit Attorneys Office is dedicated to defending them, whether it means protecting a child from physical harm or ensuring that a parent who owes child support lives up to his or her legal responsibilities. Child Abuse Research shows that when a child is exposed to violence or the basic requirements for the childs welfare are not met, the childs risk of future participation with the criminal justice system increases. As Circuit Attorney, Jennifer Joyce is able to leverage the resources of the criminal justice system to help children, catch predators and ensure that justice is served when a child is harmed. Crimes of violence against children are some

of the most difficult cases to prosecute because of the physical, intellectual and emotional immaturity of the victims (some of whom may be required to testify against predators), and because of the emotional destruction that such violence often wreaks on the family of a victim. For this reason, members of the Sex Crimes and Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Teams of the Circuit Attorneys Office are specially trained to handle crimes against children. This specialized training helps ensure that child victims are heard and their rights are protected. In the last decade, attorneys in the Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit have prosecuted thousands of cases involving sexual assault, physical abuse and neglect of children, including abandonment, com-

puter exploitation and internet crimes, parental kidnapping and child abduction, exposure of children to HIV and registration of child sex offenders. Prosecutors handling child abuse cases regularly work with the Kathy J. Weinman Childrens Advocacy Center, which provides a central location for forensic interviews of children. A trained forensic interviewer talks to the child about what has transpired, after which prosecutors review a recording of the interview to determine whether any criminal conduct has been revealed. Child Support Missouris children have the legal right to the basic necessities of life: food, shelter and clothing. Parents have a legal obligation to support their children within their financial

means. The Child Support Unit of the Circuit Attorneys Office works with local government and state agencies to help ensure that children in the City of St. Louis get the support to which they are entitled. The Child Support Units 7 attorneys, 10 investigators and 6 support staff apply Missouri law to promote the long-term financial stability and welfare of the children of our City. The Unit works to collect back child support for the child and his or her custodial parent. It also recovers taxpayer dollars given out in public aid. If a child has been forced onto welfare because a parent is past due on child support payments, the law allows the government to recoup the money from the delinquent parent. Knowing that some parents hide assets as a means of dodging their child support obligations, the Child Support Unit locates the assets of delinquent parents, seizes them and then uses forfeiture procedures to give the assets to the children to whom they are owed. Drug Money Put to Good Use In 2008, the Circuit Attorneys Office inaugurated the use of a creative technique for collecting back child support. When a person owing child support is

arrested as part of a drug bust or for another criminal offense and is found to have cash in his or her pocket, the Child Support Unit works with lawyers in the Circuit Attorneys White Collar Crime Unit to use asset forfeiture laws to take those funds. The forfeited cash is then applied to the delinquent parents overdue support balance. Inspire Me to Be... The community initiative Inspire Me to Be was created by Jennifer Joyce in 2002 to deter high-risk children in targeted area schools from choices that could limit their potential. The program began as a drug-free calendar contest in 2003. It included a drug education and prevention class in 10 elementary schools in the City of St. Louis. Federal and State grants allowed Joyce to expand Inspire Me to Be... from 2004 to 2009. Participating students in Inspire Me to Be... learned problem-solving and conflict-resolution techniques, as well as goalsetting skills. Each are tools needed to lead a productive life rather than one filled with drugs, guns and gang violence. The program created an environment in which continued education was directly linked to future success.

changes and improvements that have led to a significant increase in the successful prosecution of violent crimes: H om ic ide con viction s increased from 74% to 93%. R o b b e r y c o n v i c t i o n s jumped from 69% to 93%. Sex crime convictions rose from 52% to 93%. A s s a u l t c o n v i c t i o n s climbed from 60% to 71%. These successes were the culmination of such efforts as the Project Sentry Gang Strikeforce, created with the use of grants, which allowed the Office to work with juvenile court prosecutors, community groups, Probation and Parole officers and St. Louis Police Department detectives in an effort to identify and prosecute gang members. Prosecutors and investigators handling domestic violence and sex crimes receive special training for these types of cases. In 2007, the CAO formed the Career Criminal Unit. Made up of some of the most experienced and successful prosecutors in the state, the units sole mission is to focus on repeat offenders who commit the majority of crime in our City. The Violent Criminals Unit handles only violent crimes, including assaults, homicides, and gang-related offenses. The VCU team members receive specialized training to prosecute these crimes and keep up to speed on gang activity. Sexual Violence Whether a crime takes place at the hands of a stranger, an acquaintance or a family member, the pursuit of justice for those who have suffered sexual assault is essential to fulfilling the Circuit Attorneys mission of seeking justice for all citizens within the highest standards of ethical behavior and professionalism.

Justice for Victims of Violence

Violent Crimes Violence claims many victims: the unsuspecting pedestrian who is injured in a random knock-out game attack, the innocent child struck by a gang members stray bullet while jumping rope, the abused spouse beaten by an enraged family member, the hardworking police officer who is injured while trying to keep our community safe. Holding criminals accountable for their violent acts is one of the most important duties fulfilled by the Circuit Attorneys Office. In the 12 years since her election, Circuit Attorney Joyce has overseen

Lori Arnett* awoke in her bed to a kiss from a stranger. The intruder, Michael Boykin had made his way into her bedroom by breaking the glass in the back door of her home. Arnett recognized him as a man an acquaintance had introduced her to weeks earlier. She struggled fruitlessly to get away. We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Boykin told Arnett before pulling off her clothes and performing sex acts. Im taking this with me so you arent going to have my DNA, he said as he wiped her body with a T-shirt. Once he was satisfied that hed left no trace of his presence, Boykin fled. Thirteen days later, he struck again. This time Boykins target was a 14-year-old boy who was home alone while

his mother was at work. The boy awoke in the early morning hours to the sound of his dog barking and went to find the cause of the dogs agitation. Boykin approached the boy, holding a gun in a gloved hand, and ordered him to put a blanket over the dogs kennel. Over the next several hours Boykin smoked crack cocaine, struck and sodomized the boy and ransacked the house. When the boys mother arrived home, Boykin sexually assaulted her several times. It was only when the telephone rang that Boykin finally fled. Like he planned, Boykin left behind no DNA evidence. However, the boy and Arnett identified Boykins photograph. His mugshot was printed in the Evening Whirl, which garnered information that led

to his arrest. Boykin was no stranger to the justice system, having served 10 years in Missouri prisons for Sodomy, False Imprisonment, Kidnapping and Robbery. He had been out of prison for just over a year when he attacked Arnett, the boy and the childs mother. Following a successful prosecution by CAO attorneys, Michael Boykin was sentenced to 212 years in prison for 22 different crimes. or victims of sexual assault and abuse, the emotional trauma lingers long after physical wounds have healed. For many, the impact lasts a lifetime. The Office recognizes the unique nature of cases involving sexual violence.

The Sex Crimes Unit employs lawyers, investigators and support staff to handle sexual assault charges. In addition to training in the area of victim support, the attorneys are also trained in the use of forensic DNA test results. The St. Louis Police Departments participation in a central law enforcement DNA database, CODIS, has solved several old cases involving sexual assault. Working with the police, the Circuit Attorneys Office has been able to use forensic DNA evidence to bring repeat sex offenders to justice. The CAO has also been a leader in combating stalking. The Sex Crimes Unit has been able to prosecute stalkers, bringing some measure of relief and safety to tormented victims.
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*Name has been changed to protect the victim.

Rather than ask why a woman would stay in an abusive relationship, shouldnt we be asking why a man abuses?

Jennifer M. Joyce
Domestic Violence A domestic violence case involves more than just the filing of charges. To create lasting change, victims need help ending the cycle of violence. Violence between partners or spouses stems from the abusers need to exert power and control over the victim. Unfortunately, many domestic violence victims lack the financial means and emotional support needed to break the pattern of abuse. The Domestic Violence Team coordinates the prosecution of misdemeanor and felony cases of domestic abuse for the Circuit Attorneys Office. It is composed of attorneys, investigators, counselors and victim support staff. These staffers recognize the unique challenges faced by victims of domestic abuse and structure their cases and work to help victims meet those challenges. Their objective: to help victims remain safe and hold offenders accountable. In addition to prosecution, Domestic Violence Team members conduct regular training of law enforcement, community groups and hospital personnel on the importance of a coordinated response to domestic violence.

Violence Against Law Enforcement Officers

The Circuit Attorneys Office has made the prosecution of those who threaten officer safety a priority. In 2010, 10 out of every 100 police officers nationwide were assaulted and 153 officers were killed in the line of duty. Currently, Missouri ranks 13th in the nation in officer deaths with 36 killed in the line of duty from 2001 to 2010. One such prosecution involved the killer of St. Louis police officer Norvelle Brown. Just before midnight on August 15, 2007, 22-year-old Brown pulled up in his squad car alongside 15-year-old Antonio Andrews and a friend. The two boys were on their way to a Chinese restaurant. Shortly after Brown stopped at the curb to talk to the pair, Andrews ran. Brown, still behind the wheel, pursued him into an alley and got out of the car. Andrews fired a revolver at Brown. Brown ducked, but a bullet struck him in the upper back, above the bulletproof armor he was wearing. The shot killed him. Witnesses identified Andrews as the gunman, and Andrews was certified to stand trial as an adult. In 2009, a St. Louis jury convicted Andrews of murder, and he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Andrews conviction and sentence sent a tough message that violence against law enforcement officers will not be tolerated.

Since 2001, the Circuit Attorneys Office has pursued over 5,000 charges against people who have commit ted crimes against police officers. In 2011, the Circuit Attorneys Office reviewed nearly 300 incidents of Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer. Prosecutors pressed charges on 77% of these. In 2011, the CAO pursued 661 charges related to Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer. Since 2001, nine officers of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department have lost their lives through acts of violence or as a result of injuries obtained while on the job.

Statistics

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Prosecuting Dealers Rehabilitating Addicts

Darryl Walton was no stranger to the law. In 1979, when he was just 16, he received his first Felony conviction for Armed Criminal Action and two counts of Robbery 2nd. Over the next 30 years, Walton would rack up five more Felony and Misdemeanor convictions for such offenses as Possession and Sale of a Controlled Substance, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Assault. On Nov. 15, 2010, Walton was once again up to no good. Officers spotted him at a gas station, passing something to the occupants of two different vehicles. When they approached the second car, the officers saw what they believed to be heroin in the console. Police pursued the first car and watched as the driver tossed a crumpled piece of yellow paper out the window. On the paper was the drivers name and, inside the paper, a substance that turned out to be heroin. A search at the scene during Waltons arrest revealed $80 and trace amounts of heroin. Later, when Walton arrived at

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the police station, a baggie containing more than two grams of cocaine base fell from his pant leg. In written statements, the drivers of both vehicles indicated that Walton had sold them the drugs. The Circuit Attorneys Office filed a threecount criminal indictment against Walton: two counts of Sale of Heroin and one of Trafficking in the Second Degree in connection with the cocaine base. On October 5, 2011, a St. Louis jury convicted Walton on all three counts, and on Nov. 18, 2011, St. Louis Circuit Judge Robin R. Vannoy sentenced Walton to 12 years on each count, to be served concurrently. 2001, when Jennifer Joyce took office as Circuit Attorney, nearly a third of the felony cases prosecuted by the Circuit Attorneys Office involved drug charges. With drug crimes consistently making up such a large portion of the caseload, the Office seeks and has been

awarded grants to help it prosecute drug enforcement cases. The current grant partially funds the the Drug Enforcement Taskforce, made up of five attorneys, two investigators and one trial support staff. The taskforce was specifically formed to hold drug dealers and chronic offenders accountable. Drug Court Putting drug dealers behind bars is a priority for the CAO, but providing help for non-violent drug offenders who want to conquer their addictions is also an important part of keeping St. Louis streets safe and saves taxpayers money. Crime and drugs are often connected. It is a crime to use, possess or sell drugs, of course, but many addicts also engage in other crimes to support their addictions. Once an addiction has been conquered, the user no longer has a reason to commit crime. The CAO recognizes that through rehabilitation efforts both the community and the addict win. Drug

Since

Court, which is overseen by judges of the 22nd Circuit, is one way of combating crime in the long term. Through a partnership among the Circuit Attorneys Office, the Missouri Public Defenders Office and the Missouri Division of Probation and Parole, a defendant facing nonviolent drug charges signs a contract to stop using and enter a rehabilitation program. If the offender successfully completes the program, the charges are dismissed. For the Office to agree that Drug Court is an appropriate option for an offender, several conditions must be met: the crime must be non-violent; the victim must consent; the offender must make full restitution to the victim; Drug Court fees must be paid; the offender must have a non-violent criminal history; the offender must have a proven addiction; the crime must not have involved firearms; the offender must be a legal resident of the United States. The Circuit Attorneys Office reserves the right to impose additional conditions as appropriate. Its not easy for an offender to get into Drug Court, and, once admitted, the offender will find that the program is rigorous. But Drug Court gets results. Graduates of the program go on to live as successful, productive citizens.

Life seemed pretty hopeless for Allison Johnston* when she entered Pre-Plea Drug Court in October 2009. At 43, she was a seasoned crack addict. A mother to three, Johnston had lost custody of her children to relatives long before an arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance landed her file in our office. Thankfully, this is just what she needed. Prior to her entry into Drug Court, Johnston had enrolled at Queen of Peace Center, a local organization focused on helping women with substance abuse and mental illness. Along with Drug Court staff, Queen of Peace was instrumental in Johnstons recovery. After overcoming her addiction, she was able to find a full-time job at a nursing home. Eventually,this former addict moved into her own apartment. With these accomplishments under her belt, Johnston worked to regain physical custody of her children one-by-one. Upon her graduation in January 2011, she had kicked a long-term habit and reunited her family.

*Name has been changed to protect the Drug Court graduate as charges have been dismissed. 12

Combating Con Men & White Collar Crooks

To con man Charles Reeder, elderly women were nothing but targets. Using intimidation and deception, he cheated them out of tens of thousands of dollars, all while claiming to be helping them by performing home repairs. In 2004, Reeder went to the homes of three women: R.C., a 91-year-old from the Lindenwood Park neighborhood, and Hill residents M.C., 88 years old, and A.R., 81 years old. Reeder scammed each woman in the same way: after approaching her in an aggressive and pushy way,
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he would get into her home and insist on performing work that she had not requested: filling expansion joints with concrete, using bathroom caulk to waterproof a basement and even intentionally causing damage behind the womans back and then insisting on repairing it. Then Reeder demanded thousands of dollars from the women, all of whom were living on fixed incomes in some cases he even wrote checks on the victims account himself. He bilked one woman of almost $18,000 in 10 days.

The CAOs White Collar Crime Unit vigorously prosecuted Reeder. In 2008, the con man plead guilty to three counts of Stealing and was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Joan L. Moriarty to 10 years on each count, to be served concurrently. Elder Abuse, Fraud, and White Collar Crime: Prosecution and Education In 2001 Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce created the White Collar Crime Unit. Individuals

who steal retirement funds from the elderly, government officials who misuse their public positions and con artists who defraud their fellow citizens of money and property, inflict untold financial, emotional and physical damage on hundreds of victims each year in our City. The guiding principle of the White Collar Crime Unit is to hold criminals accountable for the harm they cause, even though these crimes may not involve violence. The White Collar Crime Unit, made up of three attorneys, one investigator and four support staff, tracks, investigates and prosecutes criminals who violate Missouri laws by committing fraud, identity theft, elder fraud, tax evasion, election fraud, public corruption or by passing bad checks. The unit also represents the Circuit Attorneys Office in civil litigation matters and provides defense services for State officeholders when necessary.

Fighting Crime and Assisting Schools

Each attorney in the White Collar Crime Unit has a caseoload of 45 to 50 cases. Since 2001, the unit has turned over more than half a million dollars to the State of Missouris School Building Fund. Nearly $230,000 was collected from criminals forfeited profits. $233,764 came from the forfeited bonds of criminals who fled capture.
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A Commitment to Victims: VictimS ervices

oo often, crime victims feel powerless in the criminal justice system. Although they are the ones
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who suffered, the prosecution is carried out on behalf of the State. As a result, victims may feel that their trauma and pain are nothing more than elements needed to prove a crime. The Circuit Attorneys Office has worked hard to change this perception, making a priority of supporting victims, protecting their rights and seeing that they have access to needed resources. An entire team, the Victim Services Unit, is in place to further these goals. One of Missouris leading victim advocate centers, the Victim Services Unit helps crime victims, witnesses and their families overcome the effects of crime. Dedicated professionals work hard to help victims understand their rights and provide counseling, information and sup-

port throughout the criminal justice process. Victims Rights Each year, the Victim Services Unit serves more than 3,800 victims, helping them find the resources, information and courage to overcome the devastating and often long-term effects of crime. Missouris Constitution guarantees victims a number of rights, including: to be present at any stage where the defendant can appear, to be notified of the outcome of the case, to make a written or oral statement for consideration by the judge when the defendant is sentenced and to receive notification of the release of an inmate from a correctional facility. he Victim Services Units efforts have gotten results. In the words

being there to remind me of what is right and wrong and for believing in me. You will never know how much I appreciate your efforts to protect my family. Community Outreach In addition to notifying crime victims of case developments, the Victim Services Unit provides services that arent tied to a specific pending court case. The unit and its individual members are heavily involved with the St. Louis metropolitan community, attending community and neighborhood meetings, educational seminars and conferences for the public and social service professionals. The Victim Services Unit also shares its compassion and expertise across the County, conducting crisis intervention after such tragedies as the Joplin tornado and the aftermath of 9/11 in New York City. Obtaining Resources for Victims The Victim Services Unit staff works hard to earn grants to assure that citizens directly affected by crime get the support they need and deserve. Since 2001 these efforts have paid off, garnering over $5.5 million to provide services, counseling

of those who have been helped: If it were not for the many in Victim Services who assisted me and gave the support and resources I received, I would have never been able to cope and survive this ordeal. Thank you for all the support you have provided for not only me but my family as well. You helped all of us through a very difficult year. But it was worth it! We got the bad guy off the street for at least the next 20 years! Thank you for your patience, for always being available, for listening and giving me the strength to move forward through both the legal process and my own life. This has been a traumatic and awfully hard road. Thank you for

and information to victims and witnesses of crime. Additionally, under the direction of the units managers, hardworking graduate interns and volunteers augment the services provided by permanent staff members.

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(T)he duty of a prosecuting attorney is not to persecute, but to prosecute, and that he should endeavor to protect the innocent as well as to prosecute the guilty. He should always be interested in seeing that the truth and the right prevail. From Bailey v. Commonwealth, 193 Ky 687, 237 S.W. 415, 417 (1922)

Conviction Integrity: Past, Present and Future

The Prosecutors Role A prosecutor is tasked with pursuing justice by upholding the laws of the State, defending the Constitution of the United States of America, holding the guilty accountable, advocating on behalf of victims and protecting the innocent from wrongful conviction. Jennifer Joyce holds her staff to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism. A cornerstone of Joyces service is conviction integrity, demonstrated by her willingness to examine cases involving claims of actual innocence and Office efforts to prevent wrongful prosecution. Experience and Training Yield Conviction Integrity Prosecutors and staff who are experienced and effectively trained, with strong legal skills, the highest ethical standards and a commitment to operating with integrity, are the best hope for hold-

ing the guilty accountable and preventing wrongful conviction of the innocent. Each year, CAO attorneys participate in hours of continuing legal education, often exceeding State standards. Circuit Attorney Joyce has worked to retain experienced, qualified prosecutors by developing a performance-based management system because the failure to retain such prosecutors not only jeopardizes public safety, but also increases the risk of wrongful prosecution of the innocent. DNA Justice Project: A Commitment to Justice In 2001, Circuit Attorney Joyce announced the formation of the DNA Justice Project, a proactive review of convictions made before her tenure and prior to the early 1990s, when forensic DNA technology became an accepted tool in Missouri courts. Cases were examined to determine whether the application of recently available

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DNA technology might vindicate any convicted defendant. Charges in the cases that were screened and evaluated included Murder, Sex Offenses and Robbery. A team of volunteer law students and a senior attorney examined 1,400 cases from the City of St. Louis that qualified for review to determine whether expensive DNA analysis to clarify a conviction was justified. So far the process has yielded conclusive results in 11 cases. In seven of these cases, guilt was confirmed despite a declaration of innocence by the defendant. These cases included the conviction of Kenneth Charron, who raped a 59-year-old woman in her home in 1985, and that of George Biddy, who climbed through the window of a sleeping womans apartment in 1986 and raped her. In four cases defendants were exonerated and released from prison. Joyces passion for justice has put the Circuit Attorneys Office on the leading edge of the conviction integrity movement. The Offices work with the DNA Justice Project prompted Joyce to ask the Missouri Legislature for a law guaranteeing compensation for people who are wrongfully convicted. It was passed in 2004. In 1984 a knife-wielding man forced his way into the car of Saint Louis University student Jane Smith.* After having Smith drive to an alley, the man raped and sodomized her for two hours before finally letting her go. Traumatized, Smith drove home and called the police. She was taken to a hospital, where staffers performed a sexual assault examination, collecting evidence of the attack. Smith identified her assailant as a clean-shaven African-American man.

After helping the police prepare a composite sketch, she reviewed photos and identified Larry Johnson as the man who had raped her. That same year, Johnson was convicted of Rape, Sodomy, Kidnapping and Robbery despite maintaining his innocence. In 2002, after discovering Smiths rape kit in a bag of evidence that had been thought destroyed, the Circuit Attorneys Office agreed to DNA testing that had not yet been available in 1984, and the results revealed that Johnson was not the attacker. Larry Johnson was released after nearly two decades in prison. It wouldnt be the last time that Jennifer Joyce, as Circuit Attorney, would agree to review a conviction to determine whether it was just. In June 2005 the Legal Defense and Educational Fund of the NAACP approached the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office regarding a case involving a 1980 murder. Quintin Moss was shot and killed while selling drugs near the corner of Sarah and Olive streets in St. Louis. Four people were initially arrested as suspects, but charges were filed against just one: Larry Griffin, who was ultimately convicted and sentenced to death on August 7, 1981. On June 21, 1995, after more than a decade of appeals and post-conviction activity at every level of the appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court, Larry Griffin was executed. The NAACP argued that the wrong person had been convicted of the murder and that new evidence identifying the real killer had been discovered. The Circuit Attorneys Office agreed to review the

case. Joyce put together a team of three lawyers and two investigators who reviewed thousands of pages of documents, analyzed transcripts, contacted witnesses and examined scores of evidence. During this process a new witness was identified. His account was similar to that of a key witness in the original prosecution who identified Griffin as the killer. After that exhaustive review, the Circuit Attorneys Office issued an extensive report to the community and concluded that justice had been done both for Quintin Moss and Larry Griffin. The report remains available at www. circuitattorney.org. Law Enforcement Integrity For the justice system in America to work properly, citizens must have trust

and confidence in law enforcement. The vast majority of law enforcement officers are good, hardworking people dedicated to doing the right thing. However, police officers, on occasion, make mistakes, bad decisions, or commit crimes. When an officer is accused of a crime related to his or her official duties, the Circuit Attorneys Office holds the officer accountable just as it does any other citizen, regardless of background, profession or economic status. Over the years Joyce has had to prosecute law enforcement officers suspected of breaking the law. In the event that an officer is accused of criminal conduct, we review the officers actions to ensure that his or her work does not infringe on the rights of their fellow citizens. *Name has been changed to protect the victim.
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Community Partnerships

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 Community Affairs Bureau Neighborhood offices

Some Community Partnerships

Fraud Prevention Taskforce Neighborhood Orders of Protection Website: www.circuitattorney.org Neighborhood Justice Project Community Information Database Circuit Attorney Community Education Program Hot Blocks grant Community newsletter Online case information Neighborhood team of attorneys Neighborhood court advocacy Neighborhood meetings Neighborhood Ownership Model Inspire Me to Be... Facebook: www.facebook.com/circuitattorney Twitter: www.twitter.com/jenniferjoyceca Blog: www.circuitattorney.tumblr.com
The Circuit Attorneys Office believes that crime reduction requires an active, educated and engaged community: When victims and witnesses actively participate in the criminal justice system, the CAOs conviction rate is nearly 100 percent. When citizens educate themselves about safety and pro-active steps they can take to protect their community, neighborhoods see a reduction in crime. When an engaged community develops crimefighting strategies through the adoption of a Neighborhood Ownership Plan, their neighborhood becomes less attractive to chronic offenders who target areas in which they believe the risk of getting caught is low. The entire Office is committed to helping residents understand that the power to keep their neighborhoods safe and offenders accountable lies primarily with them. Communities that harness this power positively and proactively are the key to true offender accountability and to long-term stability and safety. The Community Affairs Bureau, which was created during Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyces tenure, has been especially helpful in focusing office resources to convert the community into its own crime-fighting tool. The Community Affairs Bureau is made up of lawyers and staff who, in addition to their case work, attend neighborhood meetings, help educate the community about the criminal justice system and teach citizens how to be their own advocates when it comes to urging courts to impose tough penalties on convicted criminals. Engaged Community An engaged community with a plan is an effective crime deterrent. In

2010, the Lafayette Square neighborhood formed alliances with government and law enforcement agencies, including our office, in an effort to reduce crime. After Lafayette Square implemented strategies to reduce crime in the area, the neighborhood saw its lowest crime levels in five years. Out of Lafayette Squares experiement came the Neighborhood Ownership Model, or NOM. Endorsed by the Mayors Office and the St. Louis Police Department, the NOM is a partnership among these organizations, the Circuit Attorneys Office, the courts and the community. Our attorneys, staff and SLMPD officers work to train neighborhoods on Citizens Patrols and Neighborhood Impact Statements. Patrols work in groups to serve as an extra set of eyes and ears to law enforcement officers. Statements allow a neighborhood to tell a judge how a defendant has negatively impacted their community. Based on these statements, judges may issue a stay-away order as a condition of bond or probation or take this information into consideration during sentencing. The Fraud Prevention Taskforce educates St. Louisans on how to detect potential fraud and avoid scam artists. See the table on this page for many other examples of the CAOs partnership with the community.

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The Circuit Attorneys Office would like to thank photographer Suzy Gorman for her donation of time and resources. Additionally, we are grateful to the team at Advertisers Printing for their assistance in the production of this report.

Circuit Attorneys Office 1114 Market Street, Room 401 St. Louis, MO 63101