In 1989, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office became the first office in California to successfully introduce D.N.A. "genetic fingerprinting" evidence in a criminal case.


Michael D. Schwartz
Special Assistant District Attorney

As a member of the District Attorney’s management staff, the Special Assistant District Attorney handles a wide variety of responsibilities ranging from responding to Public Records Act requests to overseeing confidential internal investigations and personnel matters. The Special Assistant also enforces Brown Act open-meeting laws and serves as liaison on this Act and other civil law and municipal law matters to all local government attorneys who are advising the county’s ten incorporated cities and its dozens of special districts. In this liaison capacity, the Special Assistant District Attorney deals directly with local municipal officials and their legal counsel.

The Special Assistant District Attorney oversees the Victim Services Unit and supervises the Writs, Apppeals and Training Unit. The Special Assistant District Attorney also prepares legal opinions on miscellaneous subjects, prepares and edits some of our office publications, and handles special civil law matters. Additionally, the Special Assistant District Attorney provides budgetary recommendations, participates in making major fiscal decisions affecting the day-to-day operation of the District Attorney’s Office, and provides recommendations regarding matters of policy direction and changes.