Does the Attorney General’s Office investigate or prosecute alleged crimes?
The AGO has no original criminal jurisdication. Specifically, the Attorney General’s Office may only exercise criminal jurisdiction upon the written request of an elected county prosecutor, the governor, or a majority of the committee charged with the oversight of the organized crime intelligence unit. Absent such a written request, the county prosecutors are the only ones with original criminal jurisdiction in Washington state. Most criminal cases in Washington are investigated by local law enforcement agencies and prosecuted by city or county prosecutors. If you wish to report a criminal matter please contact your local law enforcement or prosecutor’s office.
