Prosecuting Attorney
Office of the Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney
Debra Rusnak – Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney
Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney Debra Rusnak has spent her entire life living in Kanawha County and her entire career serving the citizens of Kanawha County.
As the highest Law Enforcement Officer in the County, the fine men and women on the front line rely on the advice and assistance provided by Ms. Rusnak, her Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys and support staff.
Ms. Rusnak’s Attorneys do not shy away from the toughest cases and the most dangerous criminals. Ms. Rusnak has always faced prosecution with the belief that right is right, wrong is wrong, and fair is fair. The rules are the rules for everyone and none of us gets to ignore them. This is the policy of the Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney and the integrity this county deserves.
The Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney is committed to the safety of the County’s citizens, Justice for victims of crime, and serving the County’s residents with Integrity, all while being a conservative custodian of every tax dollar.
Assistants and Staff
One in 26,000 attorneys in the United States is a Prosecutor. The job requires one to be mentally strong to remain resilient while working with the worst facts in the worst cases, professionally skilled to meet the world’s highest legal burden, and morally driven to do the right thing, every single day. Nearly 27,000 cases were filed in Kanawha County in 2023, more than double that of the next busiest counties and nearly ten times that of some West Virginia Counties. The Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney is assisted by more than 50 Attorneys and support staff.
Organization
Magistrate
The Magistrate Section is responsible for pre-trial litigation, Misdemeanor Trials, Felony Preliminary Hearings, and other proceedings before the County’s twelve Magistrates.
Juvenile
The Juvenile Section handles Juvenile Offender cases before the Juvenile Referee and the Circuit Courts as well as Juvenile Abuse and Neglect cases in Circuit Court.
Felony
The Felony Section handles pretrial litigation, plea negotiations, and Trials before the County’s eight Judges.
Grand Jury
The Grand Jury Section prepares and presents cases before the Grand Jury to be litigated in Circuit Court.
Executive
The Executive Section acts as administration for the Agency including Supervision of all Legal Work, Budget and Finance, Human Resources, Public Information and relations, Law Enforcement Support, Victim Services, and Inter-agency Relations.
CONTACT US
Phone
(304) 357-0300
Fax (304) 357-0342
Mailing Address
Kanawha County
Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
301 Virginia Street East
Charleston, WV 25301
Office Hours
Monday-Friday
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- If you need to report a crime, please contact the Kanawha County Sheriff, the West Virginia State Police, or your local police agency because they investigate the crimes we prosecute.
- If you are a victim of a crime that has been reported to one of our law enforcement partners, you can reach our Victim Services advocates by calling (304) 357-0300.
- If you are a concerned citizen or have questions, please call (304) 357-0300 and ask to speak with the on-call prosecutor.
- If you are a media outlet, please send any requests to info@kanawhaprosecutor.com.
Duties & Responsibilities of the Prosecuting Attorney
Our office is responsible for prosecuting crimes in Kanawha County and providing crucial support to victims. With a dedicated team of over 40 professionals, including prosecutors, victim advocates, investigators, and support staff, we work tirelessly every day to serve the people of Kanawha County and uphold justice. In partnership with various law enforcement agencies, we ensure that crimes are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted. The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is organized into three primary divisions: the Circuit Court Division, the Magistrate Court Division, and the Victim Services Division, each playing a vital role in our mission to protect the community.
Have Questions?
We’re here to help! Whether you’re looking for more information on county services, need assistance with online tools, or have questions about upcoming events, feel free to reach out.