INTERIM OFFICE POLICIES 

Effective January 2, 2019 

OVERVIEW & PURPOSE 

To provide guidance for Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys (“APAs”), Investigators and 

Support Staff in the daily operation of the office as the new administration continues the 
discussion and development of policies. Of utmost importance to the new administration 
is the receipt of feedback from current employees prior to the finalization of policies. 

All policies outlined herein are guided by the United States and Missouri Constitutions, 
Missouri Rules of Criminal Procedure, Statutes and case law, as well as the Missouri 
Rules of Professional Conduct and the ethical obligations we share as a community in the 

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ongoing pursuit of making St. Louis County a safe and prosperous place in which to live.  

For purposes of interim policy, “team leader” or “supervisor” is the same team 
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leader/supervisor to whom attorneys/investigators/support staff have already been 
assigned unless/until otherwise noted. 

For purposes of interim policy, “written approval” includes, but is not limited to: e-mails 
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to/from employees’ approved St. Louis County e-mail address(es). 

BAIL/BOND 

Note: on December 18, 2018, the Missouri Supreme Court adopted revisions to Rules of 
Criminal Procedure. While the new rules are effective July 1, 2019, this office has based its 
Interim Office Policies on the new rules, effective immediately​.​ These policies, based on the 
new rules, will be the basis for all recommendations to the court. 

Misdemeanor Offenses 

APAs shall request summons, and not warrants, on all misdemeanor offenses. APAs 
shall not request cash bond for any misdemeanor offense absent first obtaining written 
approval from a supervisor. 

- Note: ​immediate action ​- At the request of defense counsel, APAs shall agree to a
recognizance bond for any individual currently incarcerated on misdemeanor

Internal Office Discussion/Circulation Only 

 offenses, absent finding any of the exceptions below. 

Exceptions: If an APA determines the answer to any of the questions enumerated below 
is “yes,” APA shall obtain written approval from a supervisor in writing prior to issuance 
of a warrant/request for cash bond. 

1. Does a witness and/or victim exhibit signs of physical injury, and

2. Does clear and convincing evidence exist to determine there is a danger to a
witness and/or victim that cannot be alleviated by conditions of release, including,
but not limited to: an order or protection?

D and E Felony Offenses 

APAs shall request summons, and not warrants, on all D and E felony offenses. APAs 
shall not request a warrant or cash bond for any D or E felony offense absent first 
obtaining written approval from a supervisor. 

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Note: ​immediate action​ - APAs will produce a list of cases on which an individual
is confined on D and E felonies no later than January 11, 2019.
Note: ​immediate action ​- At the request of defense counsel, APAs will agree to
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recognizance bonds on said cases absent finding one of the exceptions below.

Exceptions: If an APA determines the answer to any of the questions enumerated below 
is “yes,” APA must obtain written approval from a supervisor in writing prior to issuance 
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of a warrant/request for cash bond. 

1. Was there a direct threat to a witness and/or victim before/during/after arrest?

2. Is there more than one prior conviction involving the same victim?
3. Were there more than two failures to appear within the last two years?
a. If so, does information show that failures to appear were in an effort to
avoid prosecution, such as evading the police upon arrest or using an alias
in a police encounter?`

If exceptions met, then: when requesting an initial warrant, APA shall ask for least 
restrictive conditions available. 

- Note:​ APAs must make good faith effort to contact the victim prior to issuance of
warrant/request for cash bond to avoid necessity of requesting an additional five
days prior to addressing bond review upon arrest​.
- Note: should an accused remain incarcerated at a bond review hearing solely due
to monetary bond condition, a rebuttable presumption exists that the accused

Internal Office Discussion/Circulation Only 

 cannot afford the monetary condition and the APA must request an alternative 
condition of release 

Violation of Conditions of Release - All Offenses 

APAs will review prior conditions of release when there has been a failure to appear on 
an open case. Absent evidence the accused intentionally attempted to flee from law 
enforcement, such as evading the police upon arrest or using an alias in a police 
encounter, then release upon the original conditions will be recommended.  

APAs will not ask for cash bond as an additional condition to ensure return to court. Any 
request for monetary conditions based solely on a failure to appear requires written 
approval from a supervisor. 

ISSUANCE OF CHARGES 

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APAs will issue only the charges which, based on the APA’s good faith belief, can be 
proven beyond a reasonable doubt on the date of filing, and not the charges for which 
only probable cause can be met. 
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Specifically, APAs shall not seek to “overcharge” at the stage of the initial 
summons/warrant/indictment phase to pressure the accused to admit guilt. 
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Note: this policy also precludes APAs from adding additional counts or increasing the 
potential range of punishment when the accused exercises his/her constitutional rights; 
including, but not limited to: preliminary hearings, motions to suppress, depositions, 
negotiations and other pre-trial hearings. Ex.: APAs shall not threaten to “send the case 
back to grand jury,” or “charge the defendant as prior and persistent” simply because the 
accused has exercised the rights guaranteed to him/her under both United States and 
Missouri Constitutions. 

DISCOVERY 

“Open file policy” means the entire contents of the APA’s file, with the exception of work 
product, shall be furnished to defense counsel when fulfilling discovery requests 
pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 25.02; including, but not limited to: all 
police/incident reports and supplements, witness interview notes, restitution 
valuation(s), audio and video recordings, and the accused’s criminal history. Said 
discovery may be furnished via advanced hand delivery of a hard copy or via the 

Internal Office Discussion/Circulation Only 

preferred method of an electronic copy using the defense attorney’s Missouri Bar 
Association e-mail address. 

The above-articulated policy applies regardless of the stage of criminal proceeding (both 
associate and circuit court). 

APAs will abide by their ongoing duty of disclosure, which exists from the inception of 
the case until disposition, and cannot be negated at any point therein.   

See: ​Brady v. Maryland​, Missouri Supreme Court Rules 25.02, 25.03, 25.07, 25.08 

PRELIMINARY HEARING 

APAs will not object to defense counsel’s request to record Preliminary Hearing(s), via a 
licensed court reporter or audio recording via the Associate Court with the court’s 
permission. 

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APAs will not request or require defense counsel to waive an accused’s right to 
Preliminary Hearing as a condition of or exchange for the accused’s release from custody 
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and/or waiver of the accused’s other constitutionally protected due process rights. 

If a case is dismissed after Preliminary Hearing for lack of probable cause, APAs shall not 
re-issue the case without written approval in writing from his/her supervising attorney. 
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WITNESSES / VICTIMS 

Note: while Victims Services Division is responsible for handling the majority of 
interaction(s) with witnesses/victims, said division, practically speaking, cannot be 
responsible for ALL interactions with witnesses/victims, and it is this premise upon which 
the Interim Office Policy is articulated. The ongoing development of additional victims 
services is forthcoming, after the new administration has received input from current 
employees. While the office’s sympathy and compassion toward witnesses/victims cannot 
be understated, it is important to recall the ethical rules and state law which establish 
certain limitations. Specifically, employees of this office represent The State of Missouri, 
and thus it would be improper for employees to provide witnesses/victims with legal advice. 

Employees will not attempt to threaten witnesses and/or victims in an effort to force 
them to participate in prosecution. APAs will not deny witnesses and/or victims the 
opportunity to complete an Affidavit of Non-Prosecution if such a request is received. 

Internal Office Discussion/Circulation Only 

Specifically, employees shall not: communicate or imply the witness/victim will face civil 
or criminal charges for failure to appear in court/cooperate with prosecution; 
communicate or imply loss of child custody or visitation rights for failure to appear in 
court/cooperate with prosecution; communicate or imply loss of licensure or other 
collateral legal consequences for failure to appear in court/cooperate with prosecution. 

MARIJUANA 

This office will not prosecute the possession of less than 100 grams of marijuana in any 
capacity. Prosecution of more than 100 grams of marijuana will only be pursued if 
evidence suggests the sale/distribution of marijuana. APAs will not issue cases, apply for 
summons or warrants for possession of 100 grams or less of marijuana.  

Pending cases: APAs will not proceed with or attempt to accept any plea/finding of guilt 

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for felony or misdemeanor marijuana possession, regardless of amount, without written 
approval from supervisor. 

- Note: ​immediate action ​- APAs will file Nolle Prosequis for every pending felony
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and misdemeanor marijuana possession case no later than January 11, 2018.
- Note: ​immediate action​ - APAs will not to request capias warrants for failure(s) to
appear on possession of marijuana matters.
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Probation violation matters: APAs will not file or pursue Motions to Revoke Probation 
arising solely from the use or possession of marijuana.  

Conditions of bail/bond: APAs will not file or pursue Motions to Revoke Bond arising 
solely from the use or possession of marijuana. 

CRIMINAL NON-SUPPORT 

Note: this office will enforce child support orders via civil mechanisms already in place. 
The loss of liberty and/or employment opportunities due to the filing of criminal charges 
only ensures the subject of the civil order will have greater difficulty operating as a 
productive member of society, and thus, would not be able to provide said support. 

This office will not criminally prosecute the failure to pay child support. APAs will not 
issue criminal cases or apply for summons or warrants for failure to pay child support. 

Pending cases: APAs will not proceed with or attempt to accept any plea/finding of guilt 

Internal Office Discussion/Circulation Only 

for any felony or misdemeanor failure to pay child support, regardless of amount of 
arrears, without written approval from a supervisor. 

Probation violation matters: APAs will not file or pursue Motions to Revoke Probation 
arising solely from the failure to pay child support.  

Immediate Action 

- APAs shall not request capias warrants for failure(s) to appear on criminal
non-support matters, whether felonies or misdemeanors.
- APAs shall recommend termination/discharge of probation for anyone supervised
solely relating to failure to pay child support, whether felony or misdemeanor
supervision.
- In the absence of termination/discharge, APAs will agree to a recognizance bond
for anyone in custody solely for probation violation relating to failure to pay child
support, whether felony or misdemeanor supervision.
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APAs will not file or pursue Motions to Revoke Bond arising solely from failure to
pay child support.
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Note: APAs currently assigned to criminal non-support to draft suggestions or outline 
plan to pursue the failure to pay child support via a civil contempt docket prior to 
finalization of future policy. 
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LEGAL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS (“LFOS”) / RESTITUTION 

Probation violation matters: APAs will not pursue Motions to Revoke Probation arising 
solely from failure to pay legal financial obligations and/or restitution ​unless a hearing 
has been held regarding the defendant’s ability to pay and the court has made a ruling 
finding willful nonpayment. 

Legal financial obligations (“LFOs”) include, but are not limited to: court costs, 
intervention fees, fees associated with conditions of supervision (ex. electronic home 
detention).   

Immediate Action 

- APAs will not request warrants/cash bond for probation violations/violations of

bond arising solely from failure to pay LFOs or restitution
- APAs will agree to recognizance bond(s) for anyone in custody solely for
probation violation(s) relating to failure to pay LFOs, whether felony or

Internal Office Discussion/Circulation Only 

 misdemeanor supervision 
- APAs to agree to recognizance bond(s) for anyone in custody solely for probation
violation(s) relating to failure to pay restitution, whether felony or misdemeanor
supervision

PROBATION CLASSIFICATION & TERMS 

Felony Probation: APAs will not seek more than three years of probation, whether 
supervised or unsupervised, SIS or SES. 

- Note: ​immediate action​ - for probation recommendations already extended,

recommendation is automatically converted to three year probation term.

Misdemeanor Probation: APAs will not seek more than one year of probation, whether 
supervised or unsupervised, SIS or SES. 

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Note: ​immediate action​: for probation recommendations already extended,
recommendation is automatically converted to one-year probation term.
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MEDIA / PUBLIC STATEMENTS 

Employees of the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, whether civil service or 
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appointed, attorney, investigator, or support staff, will not comment to the press about 
any matter relating to this office, including, but not limited to: personnel, pending 
criminal cases or policy. ​Any questions or inquiries from the press about any matter 
related to the office, including trials, shall be referred to Chief of Staff, Sam Alton, 
unless/until otherwise instructed. 

For purposes of this policy, any “posts” on social media, including but not limited to: 
Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, are considered public comment and thus employees 
are not permitted to post about any matter as it relates to personnel, pending criminal 
cases or policy relating to this office.  

Internal Office Discussion/Circulation Only