November Program Agenda

Deanne Castorena – L.A. County Assistant District Attorney, Deputy-in-charge, Child Abduction Section

Deanne Castorena is the Deputy-in-Charge of the Child Abduction Section of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.  In this role, she supervises two deputy district attorneys, two paralegals and guides seven DA Investigators in the return of abducted children. Ms Castorena is a member of the Los Angeles Child Abduction Task Force sponsored by the Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, and the California Child Abduction Task Force sponsored by the California Emergency Management Agency.  Ms. Castorena believes thorough training can prevent child abduction and may save lives.  She has lectured to law enforcement agencies, the Los Angeles County Domestic Violence Council, the Legal Aid Foundation, the California District Attorney’s Association and other groups.  

Prior to her assignment in the Child Abduction Section, Ms. Castorena worked in the Hardcore Gang Division for 14 years where she tried over 30 cases, primarily murders.  She also secured six civil gang injunctions and assisted with several others.   She secured the first civil gang injunction for the District Attorney's Office in 1994.  In 2000, the California District Attorney's Association published the "Civil Gang Injunction Pleadings Manual" authored by Ms. Castorena.

Overview:
Deanne Castorena will be presenting the District Attorney's Office role in the criminal prosecution of child abduction and the recovery of children through civil laws, both domestic and international.

In addition, Investigator Dulce Sanchez-Castillo will be joining Ms. Castorena.