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Waseca County |
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County
Map Waseca County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) City of Elysian City of Janesville City of New Richland City of Waseca |
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Other MN County Web sites |
| Attorney:
Paul Dressler (507) 835-0520, fax (507) 835-0533 paul.dressler@co.waseca.mn.us |
| The Waseca County Attorney's Office consists of
four attorneys, the elected county attorney, and three appointed assistant county
attorneys, Brenda Miller,
Rachel Cornelius, and David
Hemming;
paralegal/victim-witness
coordinator, Joely
Patten-Eskens; Clerical staff, Joette Breck and Mary Kanewischer. Our office is located on the lower floor of the Waseca County Courthouse Annex. Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday |
Criminal Prosecution |
| The Waseca County Attorney's Office is the chief
prosecutor for crimes that occur within Waseca County. Prosecution duties include
reviewing police reports, making charging decisions, representing the county in court
appearances, trying cases, and making sentencing recommendations. The Waseca County
Attorney's Office prosecutes all felony level offenses (crimes which carry a penalty of
more than one year in jail) that occur within Waseca County. Misdemeanors and gross
misdemeanors, which are offenses less severe than felonies, are also the responsibility of
the Waseca County Attorney's Office. The Waseca County Attorney's Office prosecutes all crimes that occur within the County involving juvenile offenders. These range from petty misdemeanor offenses (actions that are not defined as crimes) to felony level offenses. The Waseca County Attorney's Office oversees diversion programs that allow minor offenders to receive consequences without going to court. These programs are intended to reduce repeat offenses by the same offenders. |
Civil Matters |
| The Waseca County Attorney's Office is the legal advisor
for the Waseca County Board of Commissioners, county departments and agencies. The Waseca
County Attorney's Office provides legal advice to the county board and county departments
to assist the county in providing many public services and represents county departments in
civil court proceedings. Civil duties include: reviewing contracts and leases entered into
by Waseca County, handling county ditch matters, defending Waseca County against lawsuits,
defending Waseca County in property tax appeals, enforcing county environmental and health
ordinances, and forfeiting property used or associated with criminal activity. The Waseca
County Attorney's Office is prohibited, by law, from providing legal advice to private
citizens in civil matters. The Waseca County Attorney's Office represents the Waseca County Department of Human Services in establishing paternities, child support enforcement, public guardianships and conservatorships, civil commitments, foster care licensing, day care licensing, and CHIPS (Child in Need of Protection or Services) petitions. CHIPS petitions are initiated by the Waseca County Attorney's Office to protect abused or neglected children. Public guardianships and conservator ships are initiated to protect vulnerable adults or children who are unable to make necessary decisions for their own daily well being, such as, where to live, how to manage their money, and whether to consent to medical procedures. The Waseca County Attorney's Office also files involuntary commitment actions to provide necessary treatment for individuals who are mentally ill or chemically dependent. When a family is receiving financial assistance, the Waseca County Attorney's Office brings actions to obtain or enforce child support obligations, or to establish the paternity of a child, in order to obtain reimbursement for family assistance and other costs to the taxpayers. Parents not receiving family assistance may also apply for, and receive, these child support enforcement or paternity establishment services from the Waseca County Attorney's Office at minimal cost. For assistance in other matters, see our Referral List. |
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