OVERVIEW

The Major Crimes Unit is responsible for investigating and prosecuting a wide variety of criminal offenses against people and property. In general, the unit functions as a back-up detective bureau to all law enforcement agencies operating in Camden County. The unit's legal staff provides legal supervision on cases as well as

legal advice and review services to outside law enforcement

agencies. Major Crimes Unit

Section Chief: Victoria shilton

The unit provides 24-hour, seven-day-a-week investigative Unit Commander: Lt. Willie Mahan

response to sudden deaths, non-fatal police shootings, burglary rings, robberies, sexual assault, aggravated assault,

arson, missing persons, prostitution and fraud. The unit investigates and prosecutes bias crimes, career criminals, insurance fraud and fugitives. The unit handles computer-related crimes, including child pornography, and offers technical support for the seizure and investigative analysis of computer equipment and electronic information storage devices. The Homeland Security Counter-Terrorism Unit is part of the Major Crimes Unit.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Working with the investigative staff to investigation and prepare cases.

Providing legal advice to the countys 37 municipal police departments.

Search warrant and communications data warrant review.

Preparation of investigative grand jury subpoenas.

Supervision of municipal prosecutors.

Extradition approval for fugitives.

Preparation of out-of-state witness petitions.

AIDS testing motions, human trafficking meetings, instruction at the Police Academy, school safety issues, Sexual Assault Response Team and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner meetings, providing legal advice and oversight to the Camden County Intelligence Collective.

Consultation with other law enforcement agencies in multi-jurisdictional cases.

The legal staff keeps all its cases through the Grand Jury stage of the case, and keeps some of the cases the unit handles through prosecution, but turns over many to the Trial Unit as well.