ABOUT US
The Greene County Prosecuting Attorney's Office represents the State of Missouri and is responsible for seeking justice in felony and misdemeanor cases in Greene County, Missouri.
We have highly skilled professionals who represent the people of Greene County and the State of Missouri. We are passionate about doing what’s right, protecting the rights of all, and seeking justice for the people we serve. We are the largest law office in Southwest Missouri employing attorneys in seven units supported by a staff including clerks, legal assistants, paralegals, investigators, and victim advocates.
We are committed to conducting ourselves with the highest levels of professionalism and integrity at all times.
The work we do is more than prosecuting people who commit crimes. We are committed to
holding the right people accountable for violating the law without fear or favor in an ethical, equitable, and independent manner. We are committed to providing advocacy, support and resources to victims, witnesses and their families.
We are passionate about holding offenders accountable, honoring victim rights, ensuring conviction integrity, working to move cases quickly and justly through the criminal process, and efficiently and effectively leveraging alternative sentencing programs such as Treatment Court, DWI Court, Veterans Court, and our Restorative Justice Program for first time non-violent offenders when appropriate.
Finally, we believe it is our duty to educate and engage the community through volunteer work and greater access to information about the functions of our office and criminal justice system.
DAN
PATTERSON
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
Dan has had the privilege of serving the citizens of Greene County as the elected prosecutor or as an assistant prosecutor since 1996. Prior to his election in 2010, Dan served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, as First Assistant leading the Major Crimes Unit, and as Chief Assistant responsible for day-to-day operations of the office. Dan also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney under the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.
Dan retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Missouri Army National Guard in 2017. Dan deployed with his Missouri National Guard units twice: first, with the 135th Field Artillery Brigade, in support of the homeland defense mission Operation Noble Eagle and, later as the Deputy Command Judge Advocate for Multi-National Task Force East, Kosovo Forces 10. Dan is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Judge Advocate General's Corps Advanced Course, and the Command & General Staff College. Dan's military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal.
Dan is a graduate of Leadership Springfield class XXVII. He is a member of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association and serves on the Bench and Bar Committee. In 2013, Dan was appointed to serve on the Missouri Task Force on Children’s Justice and serves as co-chair. Dan also serves our community as the chair of the Community Partnership of the Ozarks Child Abuse and Neglect Collaborative, the chair of the Child Advocacy Center Stakeholder’s Committee, Chair of the Greene County Family Justice Center Alliance, and as a member of Ozarks Fighting Back and the DWI Task Force. Dan has also served on the Victim Center Board and the Harmony House Board. Dan is a POST certified instructor and enjoys teaching at Springfield Police Department Academy. Dan is a member of the Springfield Sunrise Rotary Club, attends Christ Episcopal Church with his family, and is an Eagle Scout.
A 1986 graduate of Springfield's Kickapoo High School, he completed his undergraduate degree majoring in Business Administration at Oklahoma State University in 1990, and obtained his law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 1993, graduating Cum Laude. While attending law school, Dan was a member of and served on the editorial board of the Missouri Law Review.
