Following nearly 33 years of service at the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office, our Special Crimes Unit Chief Jean Fisher is retiring.
Jean spent her entire career at the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office. She was known, however, before she even started her career as a prosecutor. Jean’s sister worked at the office, and Jean was the editor of the school paper at Boise High School. She would come and interview the prosecutors, looking for stories to write in the school paper.
During law school, Jean interned at the prosecutor’s office before being hired directly out of law school in 1989. She worked in many areas of the office including as a magistrate attorney, the magistrate team supervisor, preliminary hearing team supervisor, and by 1997, became the supervisor of the Sexual Assault Unit and has focused on those cases ever since.
“Nothing felt quite as meaningful to me as those cases did,” said Jean. “I learned how important it was to treat every case with as much empathy, respect and dignity as I possibly could.”
At the time Jean began her career in prosecution in 1989, the St. Luke’s Children at Risk Evaluation Services (CARES) was created (1988) and was establishing itself. Jean said she and the CARES unit “grew up together,” and that “you realize that these cases need everybody at the table.” She began working with doctors, law enforcement and other community partners on child abuse and sexual assault cases, helping develop what is now a strong community child abuse multi-disciplinary team.
She’s proud of those years in the early 90s, which were influential in building Supreme Court cases for CARES’ evaluations to be used in the criminal justice system. Jean said the prosecutor’s office was instrumental in developing the protocol for the state on child victim interviews and forensics being used in court cases.
“I’ve been so fortunate to be able to have worked on these cases,” said Jean. “It’s been a remarkable career.”
On top of her career as a prosecutor, Jean has testified in front of the legislature and actively worked on changing laws in Idaho. She also played a key role in the development of what is today known as the Faces of Hope Victim Center alongside elected Prosecutor Jan Bennetts, and former elected Prosecutor Greg Bower. Jean became the Chief Operating Officer of the Faces of Hope Victim Center in 2016.
“We were able to work on an entire wrap around system that helps individuals and families every day coming through the door at Faces of Hope seeking immediate safety and help. We now have a center that sees thousands of people every year and offers a variety of assistance,” Jean said. “This is the biggest thing I’ve ever been able to help develop.”
Even though Jean is retiring from her work at the prosecutor’s office, she isn’t leaving this work behind entirely. In January, she starts working with Building Hope Today, which is a non-profit organization that specializes in teaching multi-disciplinary teams in rural areas about the stages of grooming by sex offenders and delayed disclosure and the importance of MDT development.
“Jean, on behalf of a grateful office and a grateful community, we thank you for your years of dedicated service,” said Jan Bennetts. “You leave a legacy and community that is better off because of your hard work and your passion for this work. Congratulations on your retirement, and we all wish you the very best!”