Welcome!
 On behalf of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association let me welcome you to our website. Here you will find information about the role of prosecuting attorneys and our Association.
The prosecutor’s role in the criminal justice system is often misunderstood. Ohio’s 88 elected county prosecutors are committed to justice. The prosecutors I know aren’t motivated by “winning” or trying to send everyone to prison for as long as possible. They are motivated by their responsibility to enforce the law, to make their communities safe and to fairly administer justice. And fairness and justice is what matters most of all. Prosecutors live this every day.
Part of our role is to have a voice in public policy debates affecting the criminal justice system. To that end, Ohio’s prosecutors serve an important function reviewing and advocating for legislation with one goal in mind – the safety and security of our communities.
Ohio’s prosecutors are active in community and civic affairs. From speaking to school children about the dangers of drugs to serving on numerous committees and commissions, Ohio’s elected prosecutors and their assistants serve in vital roles.
As legal counsel to a variety of County elected officials, offices and agencies your county prosecutor assists in ensuring efficient and responsible county government.
I’m proud to be a prosecutor and honored to serve as President of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association. Please take your time and look around. Hopefully you will find information here that is educational and informative about your county prosecutor.
David P. Fornshell
Warren County Prosecutor
2026 OPAA President
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Career Opportunities
Amicus Committee Guidelines
The Ohio Prosecutor Podcast
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January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month  January is recognized as Human Trafficking Prevention Month as well as National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM). I would like to take a moment to highlight both awareness efforts.
Jan. 18 commemorates the murder of Peggy Klinke at the hands of her stalker in 2003. Peggy’s sister, Debbie Riddle, is an anti-stalking activist who co-founded NSAM and the Day of Action in her honor. Debbie explains about her sister, “Peggy had a sparkling personality and would light up a room. As the stalking continued and continued, we saw that shine fade.” For Peggy and for all victims and survivors of stalking, help us spark a conversation on stalking on Jan. 18 by posting a sparkly photo with the hashtag #SparkleAgainstStalking to help us bring back the sparkle for all victims and survivors of stalking. Learn more about Peggy and the campaign here.
Stalking frequently co-occurs with physical violence and sexual assault, and is a significant corollary to escalating violence and even homicide. It is a deeply traumatic victimization, with 92% of stalking victims reporting one or more psychological impacts from their victimization and 25% reporting feeling physically sick as a result of their victimization. Victims and survivors will often discuss this situation with friends or family first, and how we respond influences whether they seek further help. Learn more at StalkingAwareness.org.
More than 20 years ago, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) demonstrated the United States’ commitment to combating human trafficking domestically and internationally. Among anti-trafficking professionals, Human Trafficking Prevention Month is often the busiest month of the year, holding additional awareness events, planning more collaborative meetings, facilitating numerous trainings, and continuing to advocate for changes in policies that would benefit survivors. January is an opportunity to highlight the work being done every single day to prevent and respond to human trafficking. The Governor’s Human Trafficking Task Force will meet this month to discuss Ohio’s fight against trafficking by all participating cabinet agencies.
Special thanks to Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services Executive Director Nicole Dehner for this contribution.
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