About Jan
Ada County Prosecuting Attorney, Jan Bennetts, has dedicated her years in public service to preserving the quality of life for the people she has sworn to protect. She has constantly demonstrated leadership in the prosecution of violent crimes, child abuse, domestic violence, elder abuse, financial crimes, and in ensuring victims are afforded their constitutional rights.
Jan was sworn in as Ada County Prosecutor on November 28, 2014 after being unanimously selected by the Ada County Republican Central Committee and then being unanimously appointed by the Ada County Commissioners in November 2014 to succeed Greg Bower upon his retirement. But Jan wasn't given the job as prosecutor . . . she earned it.
As the Ada County Prosecutor, Jan oversees roughly 180 employees across both the Criminal and Civil Divisions of her Office. Jan joined the Ada County Prosecutor's Office in 1994 and has been a front line prosecutor handling a myriad of cases throughout her career from sexual assault, child abuse and domestic violence to homicide and death penalty cases.
In the years leading up to her appointment, Jan led the creation of the Domestic Violence Unit in the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office. She also took a leadership role in the creation of the Ada County Domestic Violence Court and the Ada County Victim Services Center. Starting in 1998, Jan took on management and executive roles in the Office, including Magistrate Division Supervisor, Domestic Violence Unit Supervising Attorney and Felony Division Trial Team Leader. In 2009, Bower named her Assistant Chief Deputy of the Criminal Division, responsible for assisting the Chief Deputy in overseeing the daily operations of the Criminal Division. In 2013, Bower promoted Jan to Chief of Staff, responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the entire Office.
An Idaho native and summa cum laude graduate from the University of Idaho, and magna cum laude graduate from Willamette University College of Law, Ms. Bennetts began her career as a law clerk to the Honorable Thomas G. Nelson, United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Jan won national attention from the National District Attorneys Association in 2008 for her successful prosecution of a capital case. In 2006, she received the "Women Making History" award from Boise State University and the Victim Services Award from the Idaho Victim Witness Association. The Idaho Business Review named her one of the "Idaho Women of the Year" in 2009. In 2015, she received the Idaho Women Lawyers "Notable Achievement Award."
Jan has taught for the Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association, the Idaho State Bar and for the University of Idaho, College of Law trial advocacy course. Jan has also conducted training for law enforcement officers and has participated in the law student orientations on ethics at both the University of Idaho College of Law and Concordia University College of Law. In her spare time, she serves on the Board for the Women's and Children's Alliance. The Governor appointed Jan to serve on the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training Council in February 2015 where she continues to serve. She has also served on the Idaho Supreme Court's Advancing Justice Committee.
ENDORSEMENTS
Bob McQuade, Ada County Assessor
Patrick Malloy, Ada County Commissioner
Phil McGrane, Ada County Clerk
Beth Mahn, Ada County Treasurer
John Evans, Garden City Mayor
Grant Loebs, Twin Falls County Prosecuting Attorney
Jim Thomas, Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney
Bryan Taylor, Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney
Daniel Clark, Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney
Barry McHugh, Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney
Bill Thompson, Latah County Prosecuting Attorney
Clayne Tyler, Clearwater County Prosecuting Attorney
Fraternal Order of Police, Treasure Valley Lodge #11
AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Women’s & Children’s Alliance, Joyce Stein Award, 2020
Mills-Adler Award, Outstanding Elected Official, Idaho Association of Counties, 2018
Willamette University (College of Law), Distinguished Alumni Citation, 2017
Idaho State Bar Professionalism Award, 2017
Idaho Business Review, Leaders in Law, 2017
Idaho Business Review, Idaho Women of the Year, 2017 & 2009
University of Idaho College of Law Five-Year Service Award, Trial Advocacy Trainer, 2015
Idaho Women Lawyers, Notable Achievement of the Year Award, 2015
National District Attorneys Association Award, for: “…exemplifying the best attributes of a prosecutor: exhibiting tenacity, diligence and fairness in the search for truth and justice in the most difficult cases….”, July 2008
Soroptimist International of Garden City, Outstanding Work to Improve Lives of Other Women, March 2007
Idaho Victim Witness Association, Victim Services Award, 2006
Boise State University, Women Making History Award, 2006
National Association of Women Lawyers, Outstanding Woman Law Graduate (1992-1993)
Law Review, Form Editor, Willamette University, College of Law (1991-1992)
University of Idaho Alumni Award for Excellence, Outstanding Academic Achievement (undergrad)
PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Idaho POST Council (February 2015 – present)
Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association Board (February 2015 – present)
Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association, Justice & Professionalism Committee (August 2014 – present), Elected Vice-Chair (Feb. 2015-present)
Women’s & Children’s Alliance Board Member (October 2014 – present)
Inn of Court (Bencher, 2012 – 2015)
Idaho Supreme Court Advancing Justice Committee (2012 – 2018)
Criminal Justice System Panelist, Historic Joint Session of House and Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee (January 2013)
Instrumental in creation of Ada County FACES of Hope Victim Center with many collaborative partners
Instrumental in creation and development of Ada County Domestic Violence Court (Magistrate Court) with many collaborative partners