Phone: (503) 378-6347 | Fax: (503) 373-1936
Leadership
Jeff Howes, Acting Division Director
Jeff Howes earned his JD from University of Oregon School of Law in 1995. He worked as a Deputy District Attorney in Multnomah County from 1995-2024. From 2008 to 2012, Jeff was assigned as the office liaison to the Portland Police Bureau Cold Case Homicide Unit – successfully prosecuting homicide cases that ranged from 12 to 40 years old. Jeff has served as an adjunct professor at Lewis and Clark Law School, served as a member of the Oregon State Bar Board of Bar Examiners for 12 years, and on a policy committee for the National Conference of Bar Examiners for 5 years. Jeff was an editor of the 3-volume publication Criminal Law in Oregon (OSB Legal Pubs 2022). In early 2020, Jeff led the team that successfully prosecuted the case of State v. Jeremy Christian » – a vicious bias-crime spree that resulted in the deaths of two people riding a public train in 2017. From 2012 to 2024, Jeff served as the First Assistant District Attorney in Multnomah County under District Attorneys Mike Schrunk, Rod Underhill, and Mike Schmidt.
Jeff joined the Oregon Department of Justice, Criminal Justice Division in December 2024.
Stephanie Tuttle, Deputy Chief Counsel
Stephanie is the deputy chief counsel of the Criminal Justice Division. Stephanie joined the Division in 2007 and became the deputy chief counsel in 2012. Prior to joining the Oregon DOJ, Stephanie served fourteen years as the deputy district attorney in Marion County, where she specialized in child abuse and sexual assault cases. Her interest in prosecution developed when she served as a victim advocate during her senior year internship in college. Stephanie graduated from Willamette University with a B.S. in psychology and earned her J.D. cum laude from Willamette University College of Law.
Programs of the Criminal Justice Division
District Attorney/Law Enforcement Assistance Program (LEAP)
The District Attorney/Law Enforcement Assistance Program (LEAP) supports district attorneys by providing around-the-clock legal advice, and investigating and prosecuting complex criminal cases. The assistant attorneys general and special agents who work in the unit are experts in cases involving homicide, child exploitation, driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII), domestic violence and elder abuse. The unit also trains law enforcement officers and prosecutors throughout Oregon and co-chairs the Commission on Statewide Law Enforcement Standards of Conduct and Discipline ».
Oregon Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC)
The Oregon Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) focuses on investigating, prosecuting and preventing the sexual exploitation of children on the internet.
Organized Crime Division
The Organized Crime Division is charged with detecting and combating organized crime, and investigating allegations of public officials involved in corruption or malfeasance. Members of this Section specialize in conducting complex, multi-jurisdiction Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO) » investigations and in utilizing advanced investigative strategies and techniques. The Section also has specialized equipment and trained personnel to conduct wiretap investigations against organized crime groups.
Oregon TITAN Fusion Center (OTFC)
The Oregon TITAN Fusion Center (OTFC) processes information related to threats in order to detect, prevent and respond to criminal and terrorist activity. The center is staffed by the Criminal Justice Division and works in conjunction with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The center produces threat assessments and bulletins about officer safety, general crime, terrorism and analytical case support. The center also provides important training to law enforcement agencies, businesses and first responders.