The mission of the Washington County District Attorney’s Office is: Seeking justice and protecting our community.
Seeking justice means ensuring that every decision we make and every action we take meets the highest legal and ethical standards to promote justice in our society. Protecting our community means always being mindful and aware of our role in promoting public safety in our community.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office is dedicated to serving all members of our community, regardless of skin color, race or ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, native language or any other classification. We are committed to the fight against all forms of racism, bias and discrimination.
The primary way we promote justice is by working with the more than 12,000 crime victims who come from our Washington County community every year seeking justice. In addition to our direct work with crime victims through the court system, we also engage in additional efforts to promote principles of justice for all.
Please watch this video produced by the National District Attorneys Association to learn more about the role our office plays in protecting public safety.
Oregon Diversity Legal Job Fair
District Attorney Kevin Barton is a founding member of the Oregon Diversity Legal Job Fair. It is Oregon’s only diversity job fair for attorneys, paralegals and legal support professionals seeking employment with Oregon employers. The mission of the Oregon Diversity Legal Job Fair is to bring together Oregon's legal community to recruit and retain diverse legal professionals who will reflect the identity and values of the people and clients they serve.
The inaugural event took place virtually March 9-10, 2021. More than 40 employers hosted 81 virtual booths across the two-day event. During that time, employers conducted more than 600 interviews with candidates.
To learn more about this job fair please visit our website. You can also follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Building Bridges of Understanding event series
This event series brings together leaders from law enforcement and civil society organizations to examine and further understand the racial and ethnic disparities that exist in our communities and explore actions required to remove them. Visit The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon Building Bridges of Understanding for more information. You can also view this video of the 2019 gathering.
District Attorney Kevin Barton was a founding member of this event series in 2016 and has remained on the Building Bridges Steering Committee since that time.
Protecting Vulnerable Minority Victims
Minority children are disproportionately victimized by exposure to trauma, child abuse and neglect. According to the Centers for Disease Control, women and several racial/ethnic minority groups are at a higher risk of experiencing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) that are linked to chronic health and lifelong problems, such as substance abuse and mental health challenges. District Attorney Barton is leading a task force to ensure all of Washington County’s children have equal access to specialized medical providers and trauma therapists.
In the News: District Attorney Kevin Barton Highlights Importance of Addressing Childhood Trauma
Conviction Integrity Committee
The DA’s Office Conviction Integrity Committee helps ensure the work of the DA’s Office meets the highest legal and ethical standards. This committee analyzes issues related to past and present cases, helps review office policies, and ensures personnel receive regular training.
Community Outreach
The DA’s Office engages in significant outreach both in person and via social media and web-based platforms. We routinely send speakers to community groups, town halls, schools, churches, chambers of commerce, and rotaries. We are especially interested in engaging with the many diverse community groups throughout Washington County. If you know of a community group that is interested in a DA’s Office speaker, please contact [email protected].
Promoting laws that reflect our community values
District Attorney Barton partnered with Representative Courtney Neron to promote HB 4145 (2020). This bill sought to protect schools and places of worship, including religious minorities, from those who threaten to cause harm or commit crimes motivated by bias or hate.