Alicia G. Limtiaco
Attorney General of Guam

Hafa Adai!

Last year, the Office of the Attorney General made efforts to be more accessible to the people of Guam by providing its 2007 Annual Report in an electronic format. Once again, and in furtherance of the transparency and accountability the people of Guam have come to expect and deserve, it is my honor to present in electronic format the Office of the Attorney General’s 2008 Annual Report.

Unlike 2007, the Office’s 2008 Annual Report will also be disseminated to a wider audience through more mediums with the addition of videotaped commentaries from the Deputies of each Division, and through hard copies that will be distributed to all village mayoral offices. The videotaped messages can be downloaded and viewed at: www.guamattorneygeneral.com. The Office will also work with local media organizations in posting the videos on their respective Websites.

Much like in 2007, the Office in 2008 faced many challenges. And there were many accomplishments, too, following the rebuilding and reorganization of the Office, and the re-establishment of vital ties with local, territorial and federal law enforcement agencies, social service providers, non-governmental organizations, and other community partners. And we will continue to provide and improve upon the quality and efficiency of service, and professionalism deserving of the people of Guam.

The Administration Division of the Office of the Attorney General provides administrative services to all the Divisions within the Office, including the preparation and monitoring of the annual budget. Integrated within the Division are personnel who coordinate the Office’s efforts in community outreach and communications with the public.

In 2008, the Government of Guam faced financial issues and the Office of the Attorney General was not immune to the constraints of the limited financial resources of the government. But I am proud to say that the Office stayed within its Fiscal Year 2008 Budget; improved the financial oversight of the operations of all Divisions; and implemented and enforced cost-cutting measures throughout the Office, which continue today.

As part of its efforts to maximize resources, the Administration Division also coordinated and monitored the Office’s utilization of various federal funding sources.

The Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED) in 2008 recorded an increase in the amount of money it collected for many of Guam’s children. The $11,735,874 in collections were almost $2 million more than had been collected in 2007. The CSED personnel were also very active in 2008 conducting numerous outreach activities throughout the island on Guam’s child support laws, paternity establishment, and other child support-related issues. In 2008, the CSED along with other members of the Child Support Guidelines Review Commission drafted and submitted proposed Child Support Guidelines to the Legislature, which they adopted in 2009. The guidelines had not been updated since 1996.

The Civil Litigation and Solicitors Division handles civil actions in which the Government of Guam is an interested party. The Division is also tasked with bringing actions on behalf of the public interest, and when necessary, to ensure compliance by government agencies and government officials. Significant attention and effort were exerted in the regulatory and compliance areas in 2008, with the Office’s involvement in the Guam Public School System Health and Safety Task Force, which thoroughly inspected all 37 public schools. The Division was active and successful in the enforcement and compliance of Guam’s anti-gambling laws and the laws addressing illegal gambling devices or machines.

The Family Division, consisting of seven personnel, handles all matters that pertain to juveniles in our community including juvenile delinquency cases and juvenile special proceedings involving the abuse and neglect of children. The Family Division also represents Child Protective Services in cases that are brought to court involving children that have been subjected to abuse and neglect, as well as juveniles who have been deemed “beyond control,” by their parents and caretakers. There were a total of approximately 665 cases filed in court involving juveniles in 2008, as compared to 641 cases in 2007.

2008 was also a very busy year for the Prosecution Division, which marked the second consecutive year that it surpassed previous-year figures in certain crime categories. The total number of cases filed in court increased from 1,702 in 2007, to 1,831 in 2008. There were more misdemeanor and/or felony cases charged and filed in 2008 by the Office of the Attorney General, relating to driving under the influence of alcohol, family violence, aggravated assault, and property crimes.

Although the significant caseload and statistics of the Office of the Attorney General reflect the workload demands upon the Office’s limited personnel and resources, they also clearly establish the need for increased community outreach activities to educate and raise public awareness about prevention, as well as to combat the increase in crime and promote public safety.

The Office of the Attorney General will face even greater workload demands with the anticipated population increase due to the military buildup. This will require a critical review and assessment of the present capabilities of the Office, and a commitment to seek and obtain additional resources to support the current legal, criminal, and court systems, and other infrastructure. Priority issues for the Office of the Attorney General include: recruitment and retention of prosecutors, government attorneys, investigators, victim advocates, and legal support staff; adequate funding from local and federal resources to provide personnel, physical facilities, equipment, and technical support; and increased collaboration between and among local and federal law enforcement agencies, social service providers, non-profits, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations.

It is my hope that this 2008 Annual Report will provide the people of Guam with insight about the role of the Office of the Attorney General in our community, and an awareness of its accomplishments throughout the previous year.

Thank you and si Yu’us ma’ase for your continued interest in the progress of the Office of the Attorney General.

                                       ALICIA GARRIDO LIMTIACO                                           Attorney General of Guam