Duclaux to Head Juvenile Division at State's Attorney's Office

November 24, 2008

Howard County State’s Attorney Dario J. Broccolino has announced the appointment of Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Danielle M. Duclaux to head up the Juvenile Division of the state’s attorney’s office. Duclaux is a veteran prosecutor in the Circuit Court Division where she was the team leader of the Jury Trial Prayer Unit.

“Danielle Duclaux’s leadership and experience heading up our Jury Trial Prayer Unit will well serve the mission and operations of our Juvenile Division,” says Broccolino. “She is committed to balancing the public safety needs of our community with our interest in encouraging youthful offenders to become responsible and productive members of society, he adds.”

Duclaux joined the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office in 1996 after having served as a prosecutor in the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office. She received her B.S. degree from State University of New York at Binghamton in 1990 and her J.D degree from the George Washington University National Law Center in 1993.

The juvenile division prosecutes crimes committed by anyone under the age of 18. It reviews cases submitted by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Justice, files appropriate charges, prepares cases for trial and post-trial proceedings, and seeks to collect restitution for victims through the juvenile system. Detention, community service, accountability, and counseling/treatment plans are also sought in appropriate cases.

Juvenile crime, as measured by new petitions for delinquency has been relatively steady for the past five years. In 2007, the juvenile division filed 621 new petitions for delinquency annually. Additional hearings for detention review, probation violations and advisement of rights to counsel hearings increase the annual caseload to over 1,300 hearings in Juvenile Court.