Denver DA’s Office Establishes Two New Units to Address Crime Trends and Community Needs

DENVER — Denver District Attorney John Walsh today announced that the Denver DA’s Office has divided its Family Violence Unit (FVU) into two new units: the Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) and the Child Victim Unit (CVU).

This change – and increase in resources – was driven by community and case needs, as well as recent crime trends, specifically the increase in domestic violence cases.  In 2024, the Denver DA’s Office filed 12% more domestic violence cases than the year before, and 2025 filings continue that upward trend.  In addition, Denver’s FVU prosecutors tried 37% of the office’s district court trials in 2024 and handled 25% of the office’s total courtroom dockets.

“Domestic violence and child abuse cases present special challenges that require our team to specialize and collaborate closely with the Denver Police Department and with community partners like the Rose Andom Center, the SAFE Center and the Denver Children’s Advocacy Center, among others.  Our two new units make that possible,” said DA Walsh. “Given the recent increase in domestic violence cases and our commitment to the prosecution of child abuse cases, we concluded that this was the right time to make these changes to protect some of Denver’s most vulnerable residents. The ultimate goal is to better serve survivors of these terrible crimes while continuing to hold offenders accountable.  I have no doubt we will achieve that goal.”

DVU will handle all felony cases involving an offender and victim who have had an intimate relationship.  The unit, which is currently prosecuting about 420 cases, has eight Deputy District Attorneys, four Victim Advocates and four Investigators.

CVU will be responsible for all felony cases involving child victims under the age of 18, with a primary focus on sexual assault on a child and child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury or death.  The unit, which is currently prosecuting about 120 cases, has four Deputy District Attorneys, two Victim Advocates and two Investigators.

About the Denver DA’s Office:

The mission of the Denver DA’s Office is to protect the community, to seek equal justice for all, and to improve the quality and fairness of criminal justice on behalf of the people of Colorado.  We achieve that mission through excellence in our work investigating and prosecuting crime, supporting victims and their families, working with the community to prevent crime, and providing fair alternatives to incarceration in appropriate cases.

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