District Attorney Nancy E. O'Malley

District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley has served as the chief law enforcement officer in Alameda County since being appointed by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors in September 2009. Subsequently, she was elected to the position in November 2010, 2014 and 2018. To learn more about Nancy and her innovative programs, visit our newest section Meet Your DA.

DA O’Malley is a nationally recognized expert in issues involving violence against women, violence against persons with disabilities, and interpersonal violence including sexual assault, domestic violence, elder abuse, child abuse, stalking, and human exploitation and trafficking. She serves in an office with a national reputation for excellence dating back to former District Attorney and United States Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren. DA O’Malley carries out this proud legacy as the first woman to serve as Alameda County’s elected District Attorney, and as a leader known throughout California and the country for her innovation and vision.

Since joining the office as an attorney in 1984, O’Malley rose through the ranks to become Chief Assistant District Attorney from 1999 until her appointment to District Attorney in 2009. She has a formidable record, having prosecuted hundreds of felony matters ranging from child sexual assault to domestic violence and murder. In her most recent jury trial, she obtained multiple felony convictions against defendant Jared Adams for an extensive crime spree that included attempted murder, robbery of a gas station and carjacking. During the robbery of the gas station, he shot and paralyzed a 10-year-old Oakland boy who was taking a piano lesson in a neighboring music school. Defendant Adams was sentenced to 70 years in prison sentence for these crimes.

DA O’Malley is a strong advocate for victims’ rights, and is committed to doing all she can to improve the painful experience for victims of crime in Alameda County. She has developed an innovative electronic notification system to alert victims of crime about their future court dates. Additionally, DA O’Malley created the Restitution Program, ensuring those convicted repay the victim for losses suffered as a result of the defendants' criminal conduct. This program serves as model for the State and consistently breaks national recovery records. In the decade 2007 - 2017, the DA's Restitution Unit obtained more than $140,000,000 in direct restitution orders for both victims and the State of California who have expended funds on behalf of crime victims.

One of DA O’Malley’s passion projects has been the creation of the Alameda County Family Justice Center (ACFJC) in 2005. Legal, health, housing, psychological and other support services are available for victims under one roof at the ACFJC to further their safety, recovery and well-being. Over the past decade of operation, the center has provided thousands of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, elder abuse, and human exploitation and trafficking with a range of services, and has received numerous awards for excellence. The ACFJC was the second center to open in the United States and currently serves as a model for communities across the United States, and as the Northern California Regional Training Center for the California Family Justice Initiative.

DA O’Malley’s professional accomplishments include monumental contributions in the legislative arena with numerous bills written by DA O’Malley being signed into law. She has participated in drafting legislation that has included making courtrooms around the state accessible for victims with physical and intellectual disabilities, ensuring the sexual assault victims have rights in the criminal justice system and expanding the support available to victims of crime in California. In addition to successfully advocating for stronger legislative protections and increased rights for victims of crime, Ms. O’Malley is a steadfast advocate for advancing women in the workplace, for protecting vulnerable individuals who fall prey to criminals, and supporting child and youth empowerment, enhancement and engagement.

Within the office, she founded the HEAT (Human Exploitation and Trafficking) Unit in 2006 and has led the statewide charge in response to human trafficking. This has involved vigorously prosecuting traffickers (particularly those selling children for sex), targeting the purchasers, and changing perceptions about those trafficked – treating them not as criminals, but as victims.

In 2010, DA O’Malley launched the HEAT Watch Program which is a replicable, multi-disciplinary 5-pronged blueprint to unite prosecutors, police, service providers and communities in the fight against human trafficking. Our HEAT Watch program – the first of its kind in California and the first to operate within a public prosecution office in the United States – is a national model in wide use around the country. According to a 2012 report from the California Attorney General, the Alameda County DA’s Office has prosecuted over 46 percent of all human trafficking cases in California.

DA O’Malley is well known for other innovative model responses, and many of these can be seen in the divisions of her office dedicated to specialized prosecution, many of these being replicated by other district attorneys’ offices around the nation. Some of these include:

Identity Theft – dealing with issues of identity theft and cyber-crime

Real Estate Fraud – targeting those who have defrauded victims of their property holdings or purchased property fraudulently

Truancy – addressing the issue of chronic absenteeism in families, and connecting these families with support services to help them thrive

Environmental Protection – responding to environmental violations by businesses, and collaborating with other counties to widen the scope of prosecution

Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence – prosecuting these cases using a victim-focused model called vertical prosecution. This means victims deal with one prosecutor who will stay with the case from start until completion.

Awards and Achievements

For her contribution to the community and her profession, DA O’Malley is honored to have received numerous awards, including, but not limited to:

2018

Modern Day Abolitionist Award from San Francisco Collaborative Against Human Trafficking (SFCAHT)

2017

Trailblazer Award from the Korean Prosecutors Association

Delilah Beasley Award from Progressive Oakland Women Empowering Reform (POWER)

Lifetime Achievement Award from Alliance for HOPE International

BAWAR renamed their Outstanding Achievement Award as the Nancy O’Malley Award

2016

Margaret Brent Women of Achievement Award from the American Bar Association. She is the first District Attorney in the nation to receive this prestigious award

Ruby Award from Soroptimists International

Chairman's Advocate Champion Award from the Boys and Girls Club

2015

The Irvine Foundation Leadership Award and $200,000 grant for her efforts in combating human trafficking in California

Citizen of the Year Award from the Lions Club of Livermore

2014

Lois Haight Award of Excellence and Innovation Award from the US Congressional Victim’s Rights Caucus

Visionary Voice Award from the National Sexual Violence Resources Center

Fighter Against Wage Theft from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 595

2013

Women who Dare Award from Girls Inc of the Island City

2012

State Leader Award presented by the Leadership California

Trailblazers Award by Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson

2011

Susan B. Anthony Award by the National Women’s Political Caucus

2010

District Attorney of the Year by Crime Victims Action Alliance

Alumna of the Year Award from Carondelet High School

2009

Woman of Distinction Award from Girls Inc.

2007

Professional Achievement Award from CDAA’s Violence Against Women Project

2005

Top Volunteer Award from California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) for Violence Against Women Project

Women to Watch by Diablo Magazine (featured)

2004

Inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame, Justice Category

2003

Special Agent Michiel Blamey Memorial Award for Career Achievement Award by the California Sexual Assault Investigators Association

Liz Figueroa Domestic Violence Prevention Award from SAVE (Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments)

Outstanding Manager of the Year Award in Health Care Services by the Alameda County Managers Affiliation for her work in coordinating Sexual Assault Response Teams

2002

Outstanding Recognition of Service Award by the California Victim-Witness Coordinating Council

2000

Governor’s Victims Services Award for her exceptional dedication and outstanding leadership in advancing victims’ rights

1999

Distinguished Service Award from State Bar of California, Criminal Law Section

Morton Bard Allied Professional Award by the National Organization of Victim Advocates (NOVA)

1998

Woman of the Year Award from the California Senate for her leadership in ending violence against women and her legislative efforts

Outstanding Contribution Award from Bay Area Women Against Rape (BAWAR)

1995

Special Recognition Award from the Alameda County Medical Center, Department of Social Services

1994

Special Recognition of Leadership from the 3R Conference (Return to Respect and Responsibility)

1993

Instructor of the Year from California District Attorneys Association (CDAA)

Download the PDF of the official bio of Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O'Malley.