District Attorney

John Wentworth is the Clackamas County District Attorney (DA), and joined the office in 1999 after a four-year tenure as a deputy district attorney in Coos County. A Clackamas High School graduate, John is proud to call Clackamas County home again.

John is a career prosecutor with 26 years of experience. As a trial attorney, he developed a reputation for being tough, fair and well-prepared. Over the past 20 years, John has successfully prosecuted some of Clackamas County’s most dangerous offenders — murderers, rapists, domestic violence offenders and child abusers.

Recognized as a statewide expert in prosecuting domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse, John believes in protecting our most vulnerable community members. He successfully led efforts for stronger legislative protections for Oregon’s elders and domestic violence victims. Because collaborative efforts among criminal justice agencies and partners makes for a safer community, John has worked with police officers, probation officers, victim advocates, judges, defense attorneys, legislators, community advocates, and prosecutors from around the state to improve the criminal justice system.

John currently serves our community as a member of the Board of Directors at Parrott Creek Child and Family Services, and as a board member of the Children's Center, an accredited child abuse intervention center.

He is focused on promoting public safety through fair and equal justice and brings solutions to complex issues using data-driven and common-sense approaches. John seeks to address the root causes of crime. As Chief Deputy, he supervised the office’s participation in Clackamas County’s specialty court programs including: Mental Health Court, Adult Drug Court, Community Court, DUII Court and the Domestic Violence Deferred Sentencing Program.

John received his Bachelor of Science degrees from Oregon State University and his Juris Doctorate from Lewis and Clark’s Northwestern School of Law.

Awards and Recognition

• Outstanding Victim Advocacy
  Crime Victims’ Assistance Network of Oregon
• Public Service Award
  Clackamas County Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team
• Special Service Award
  Oregon Health Care Association
• Impact Award
  Domestic Violence and Vulnerable Adult Team, Clackamas Women’s Services

All offices are open to the public from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

How Is A Case Submitted To The District Attorney's Office?

The District Attorney’s Office has a very important partnership with law enforcement, but we are separate entities with different duties and responsibilities. Local law enforcement agencies are responsible for investigating allegations of criminal conduct. The duration and intensity of those investigations depend largely on the type of crime being investigated.

Once the law enforcement investigation is complete, the case may be submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for review. The type of crime that is alleged will determine which prosecution team, described below, will handle the case. To provide better continuity and service to victims, every prosecutor in the Clackamas County District Attorney’s office who is assigned a case handles that prosecution through its conclusion.  

We help children receive the financial and medical support they need to thrive.

To accomplish this, we work with parents and families to make sure children receive regular support payments and that support orders are fair to everyone. In the case of parents who are unwilling but able to pay support, our office utilizes strong enforcement measures to collect the court ordered child support.

Please note that we are a law office that represents Clackamas County and we do not represent you or anyone else involved in your case.

What We Do

• Establish parentage for children of unmarried parents
• Establish a support order if you don't have one
• Collect, account for, and distribute payments under an existing support order
• Modify support orders on request, every 35 months or if there is a substantial change
• Take enforcement action for parents that are unwilling to pay support

How To Contact Us and Get Help

We provide services on request. Download an application or sign up for services online.

Resources

• The Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) offers a helpful overview of child support services.
• Trying to make a payment?
  • Almost all child support is collected through income withholding. The best way to keep your payments up to date is to call us at 503-655-8469 and make sure we have your current employer.
  • For other ways to pay, visit How Paying Child Support Works. Note that the State charges fees for online payments through mypaymentportal.com.
• See what your child support amount might be with an online child support calculator.
• If you need a lawyer, consider contacting the Oregon State Bar or the Clackamas County Bar for a referral. If you have a lawyer representing you, we are only allowed to talk to your lawyer unless they tell us to talk with you.
• Learn more about confidentiality in unsafe situations in the child support system.

More Guidance

• ¿Qué es el sustento de menores?
• Family Law Facilitators
• Parenting Plan Enforcement
• Problems With Custody/Support

The mission of the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Victim Assistance Program is to involve crime victims and the community in a process that helps to diminish the devastating impact of crime. Experienced advocates are available to assist victims of all crimes and provide support to individuals who have suffered physical, emotional and/or financial harm as the result of crime.

Advocates provide:

Hope Card

If you have received a protective order, the State of Oregon has created the Hope Card Program to give petitioners a convenient way to provide information about their orders to law enforcement, employers, landlords, schools, etc.

Types of protective orders that qualify for a Hope card:

Request a Hope Card

Want to be a Volunteer?

Help support victims of crime in your community as a Volunteer Victim Advocate

The Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office supports victims of crime through the use of volunteers as well as staff advocates. As a Volunteer Victim Advocate, you have the unique privilege of providing crisis intervention and ongoing support to people in the aftermath of trauma caused by crime. Advocates keep victims informed of events in their case, accompany victims to court and support them in accessing their rights under Oregon law. The support of an advocate during a difficult and complicated process can minimize additional stress and trauma a victim of crime may experience.

The work of our volunteers is supported by District Attorney’s staff and includes an initial, comprehensive, 40-hour training as well as ongoing monthly meetings which provide information on advocacy skills and resources for victims of crime. The initial 40-hour training is offered twice a year and classes are held in the evening. Our next training starts in March 2025.

Many volunteers work full-time jobs along with their volunteer commitment. Essential qualities for an advocate include empathy, good listening skills and being able to help people problem-solve. Advocates must be at least 18 years of age, have reliable transportation and no criminal background. Victim advocacy is a very rewarding opportunity give back to your community.

For more information, please contact Keysha Kendall at 503-655-8616 or kkendall@clackamas.us.

Civil Rights Compliance Statement for Clackamas County DA-VAP

The Clackamas County District Attorney's Office Victim Assistance operates its program, services and activities in compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws. No person shall, on the basis of race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency), disability, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or age, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any of our programs. To file a complaint of discrimination, write Office for Civil Rights, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice (OCR), 810 7th Street, NW, Washington, DC 2O53t or call 202-307-0690 (Voice or 2O2-3O7-2O27 (TDD/TTY). Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may also contact OCR through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 (TTY), 877-877-8982 (Speech) or 800-845-6136 (Spanish). To file a complaint of discrimination with this organization, write, or call. To file a complaint of discrimination with the Oregon Department of Justice, Crime Victim and Survivor Services Division, write Oregon Department of Justice, Crime Victim and Survivor Services Division, Attn: Shannon Sivell, Complaint Coordinator, L1.62 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301 or call 503-378-5348. You may also email shannon.l.sivell@doi.state.or.us.

A hands-on learning experience and invaluable opportunity to current law students to prepare them for a professional career in the legal field.

In 2004, the Clackamas County District Attorney’s office started hiring law clerks to work on misdemeanor prosecutions. Over the years, it has evolved into an annual program that begins in February with the hiring of 6 law students right after the NW Public Service Career Fair. We also present our program to the University of Oregon and Willamette University law schools, and have hired from as far away as Wake Forest University, North Carolina.

Of the 6 law students, 2 will be rising second-year law students (i.e., those who are currently in their first year of law school) who have demonstrated a strong interest in criminal prosecution. These individuals are committing to a two-year assignment. Students hired will begin working full-time beginning the summer following their first year of law school, starting with two weeks of prosecution “boot camp.” Trainings are provided by experienced prosecutors within the office who teach the clerks how to conduct court appearances, including trials, civil commitment hearings, motions, and arraignments.

After boot camp, these law clerks will be assigned to a variety of tasks including assisting senior prosecutors on major crimes, conducting a significant amount of legal research and writing on complex motions, and working a on a variety of projects under the supervision and mentorship of the Misdemeanor team leader. After their second year of law school, they will transition to the Certified Law Clerk position, where they will be able to make court appearances.

Law clerks in our office are exposed to many unique experiences, including going on jail and prison tours, and participating in a wet lab scenario.

This position can be an externship for school credit or qualify for work study. Students will begin working full-time over the summer and will transition to a part-time schedule during the school year.

In addition to on campus interviews, we are recruiting and interviewing at our office in Oregon City. If you are interested in “job shadowing” one of our prosecutors and checking out our office, please email Bill Golden at bgolden@clackamas.us to set up a tour.