Who we are
Meet the people who prosecute serious crime on behalf of the Victorian community
Director of Public Prosecutions
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is responsible for beginning, preparing, and conducting serious criminal matters in Victoria, on behalf of the Victorian community.
The DPP is supported by Crown Prosecutors’ Chambers – led by the Chief Crown Prosecutor – and the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) – led by the Solicitor for Public Prosecutions.
The DPP is an independent statutory officer, appointed by the Governor in Council. The DPP is responsible to the Attorney-General for their performance and use of their power.
In performing their role, the DPP must consider:
- justice and fairness
- the need to conduct prosecutions in an effective, economic, and efficient manner
- the need to ensure that the prosecution system appropriately considers the concerns of victims of crime.
The Policy of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Victoria is an important part of accountability and transparency.
The DPP also has a leadership role in the criminal justice system and contributes to law reform in Victoria. You can read the DPP’s Policy Paper on Proposed Reforms to Reduce Further Trauma to Victims and Witnesses here.
Crown Prosecutors' Chambers
The Crown Prosecutors’ Chambers is made up of the Chief Crown Prosecutor (CCP) and Crown Prosecutors, who are experienced criminal barristers.
The CCP is an independent statutory officer appointed by the Governor in Council.
The CCP:
- manages Crown Prosecutors following the direction of the DPP
- ensures that Crown Prosecutors function effectively, efficiently and economically
- appears in complex cases in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and the High Court, on behalf of the DPP.
Crown Prosecutors are independent statutory appointees who work exclusively for the DPP.
Crown Prosecutors:
- appear in court on behalf of the DPP in some of the most serious cases
- have authority to make certain decisions on behalf of the DPP
- have authority to sign indictments to bring accused people to trial.
List of Crown Prosecutors:
Chief Crown Prosecutor
Brendan Kissane KC
Senior Crown Prosecutors
Nanette Rogers SC
Raymond Gibson KC
Diana Piekusis KC
Patrick Bourke KC
Elizabeth Ruddle KC
Justin Lewis
Crown Prosecutors
Daniel Porceddu
David Glynn
Justin Lewis
Erin Ramsay
Catherine Parkes
Jeremy McWilliams
Kathryn Hamill
Angela Moran
Kristie Churchill
Grant Hayward
John Dickie
Jane Warren
Stephanie Clancy
Jordan Johnston
Penelope Thorp
Raphael de Vietri
To speak to a Crown Prosecutor, please contact Chambers on 9603 7666.
Office of Public Prosecutions
The Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) is Victoria’s largest criminal legal practice.
The OPP is made up of solicitors, social workers, legal support staff, and corporate and executive services staff who work in different specialist areas. You can find our organisational chart here.
The OPP prepares and conducts indictable (serious) criminal matters on behalf of the DPP. The OPP also provides advice to external agencies, litigates proceeds of crime and contributes to law reform, all on behalf of the DPP.
OPP solicitors and social workers from the Victims and Witness Assistance Service (VWAS) support victims and witnesses during the court process.
The Solicitor for Public Prosecutions (SPP) manages the staff and budget of the OPP. The SPP is an executive appointment under the Public Administration Act 2004. The SPP is responsible for briefing Crown Prosecutors, private barristers, and OPP solicitor advocates to appear in court on behalf of the DPP. Â
In performing these functions, the SPP must appropriately consider the concerns of victims of crime.
Our Vision, Mission and Values
Our Vision
We are a leader in the criminal justice system.
We are a dynamic organisation continually adapting to deliver effective outcomes for our community by valuing and supporting our people, applying our unique legal expertise and leveraging our digital capability.
Our Mission
We deliver high quality prosecutions independently, fairly and efficiently.
Our Values
Our values are our core beliefs about how we should behave and how we do things. Our culture is shaped by these values through their influence on our attitudes and actions.
- Treat everyone with respect.
- Work collaboratively.
- Embrace innovation.
- Demonstrate professional excellence.
- Act with integrity.
Our Strategic Priorities for 2022-2025
You can find the OPP’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 here.
Kerri Judd KC
Director of Public Prosecutions
Kerri Judd KC is the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for Victoria. Kerri was appointed in March 2018. She is the first woman to hold the role in Victoria.
Kerri is interested in promoting the use of technology in court processes. She is also committed to law reform in Victoria and has played a leading role developing mentoring pathways for young prosecutors.
Kerri graduated from Melbourne University with a Bachelor of Laws in 1987 and a Master of Laws in 1995.
Kerri was admitted to practice in 1989 and signed the Bar Roll in 1991. She became a Queen’s Counsel in 2007 and was appointed a Senior Crown Prosecutor in 2016. Kerri has appeared regularly in the High Court of Australia, the Victorian Court of Appeal, and the trial divisions of the County and Supreme Courts.
Brendan Kissane KC
Chief Crown Prosecutor
Brendan Kissane KC is the Chief Crown Prosecutor for Victoria. Brendan was appointed in March 2018.
Brendan holds a Master of Laws, Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne. Brendan worked as a solicitor with the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and then as a barrister for more than 20 years. He was a member of the Refugee Review Tribunal from 1995 until 2002.
Brendan was appointed as a Crown Prosecutor in 2007. He became a Queen’s Counsel in 2014 and was appointed as a Senior Crown Prosecutor in 2015.
Abbey Hogan
Solicitor for Public Prosecutions
Abbey Hogan is the Solicitor for Public Prosecutions in Victoria. Abbey was appointed in February 2020.
Abbey holds a Bachelor of Laws from La Trobe University and a Bachelor of Arts from RMIT University.
Abbey has worked as a lawyer in various roles across the Office of Public Prosecutions since 2003, including in general prosecutions, drugs, appeals, and policy and specialised legal. As the manager of policy and specialised legal, Abbey oversaw the development of the OPP’s knowledge management system OPPedia.
Further information
In this video, we meet the people who prosecute serious crime in Victoria.