David LaBahn

Mr. David LaBahn is President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA), a national association representing elected and deputy or assistant prosecutors, and city attorneys. The association acts as a global forum for the exchange of ideas, allowing prosecutors to collaborate with all criminal justice partners, and conducts timely and effective training and technical assistance to improve the prosecutorial function. In addition, APA serves as an advocate for prosecutors on emerging issues related to the administration of justice, development of partnerships and implementation of problem-solving strategies.

Prior to forming APA, Mr. LaBahn was the Director of the American Prosecutors Research Institute (APRI) and the Director of Research and Development for the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA). In this dual capacity, he directed APRI’s Projects including editing and teaching in the areas of child and adult sexual assault and gang violence. He worked with other national organizations to lobby for the increase the funding to assist in the investigation and prosecution of child abuse as well as coordinate the efforts of these federally funded programs. He attended and spoke at numerous national conferences on NDAA’s behalf and applied for and received numerous federal grants to continue the Association’s efforts to support the nation’s district attorneys.

Before joining NDAA, Mr. LaBahn was the Executive Director of the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA). Appointed to this position in 2003, he had responsibility for all of the Association’s efforts and became the primary policy strategist and spokesperson for the organization. Much of his initial efforts involved working through a very difficult budget for the state and then the historic recall of Governor Davis caused a mid-term transition on the Governor’s Office. Throughout this tumultuous time, he managed to maintain and expand CDAA’s staff of approximately 50 full-time employees and annual budget of over $5 million. In 2006 he received the largest grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in Association history. During this time, he was involved in creating CDAA’s first Violence against Women Project, the Circuit Environmental Prosecution Project and the High Technology Prosecution Project. CDAA expanded its committee structure to include over 30 standing committees as new trends emerged like Community Prosecution, High Technology, Stalking, and Elder Abuse. He also lectured at state-wide MCLE programs on sexual assault and gang crime as well as edited the Legislative Digest to make certain that all prosecutors were aware of changes in the law. He personally staffed the Rural County Committee and taught at the Annual Rural Counties Conference in California.

Mr. LaBahn joined CDAA as the Deputy Executive Director in 1996 and at that time was responsible for the training and publications department, applying for and received state and federal grants, and lobbing the California State Legislature on criminal justice and budget matters. Mr. LaBahn was a former deputy district attorney in Orange and Humboldt counties in California (1987-96). He received numerous awards including being recognized with community service awards for his work with victims and the reduction of gang violence in the City of Westminster, CA.