Ralls County native Katie Carlin announces candidacy for Ralls County Prosecuting Attorney

RALLS COUNTY, Mo. — Katie Carlin, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Marion County, Missouri, has announced her candidacy for Ralls County Prosecuting Attorney. With a love for the Ralls County community and a passion for fighting for justice, Carlin has taken the oath to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Missouri. Carlin aims to prosecute criminal acts which occur in Ralls County to the fullest extent of the law.

Carlin grew up in Ralls County and returned to Ralls County after pursuing her education. Carlin attended Truman State University, graduating in May of 2016 with a bachelor of science degree in justice systems. Carlin then attended the University of Missouri School of Law, graduating in May of 2021.

During her time at Truman State University, Carlin was involved in several organizations, including leading the two Justice Systems student-led groups as president. While at the University of Missouri School of Law, Carlin led the Women’s Law Association as president and achieved the top grade in the Advocacy, Domestic Violence and Public Policy course, in which Carlin advocated for children in foster care in the State of Missouri by speaking to state representatives on behalf of a House Bill aimed at achieving timely permanency for children in Missouri. This bill has since passed and has been enacted into law.

Carlin has been involved in the Judicial system in the Tenth Circuit of Missouri (Ralls, Marion and Monroe counties) since 2012. During Carlin’s senior year of high school and her senior year of college, Carlin interned with the judiciary in the Tenth Circuit of Missouri, observing criminal and civil court daily. While attending law school in 2016, Carlin began working for the Boone County Juvenile Office as a programs assistant, working with at-risk youth in an after-school setting and assisting juvenile office attorneys with daily tasks, including prosecuting delinquency cases.

Carlin has been employed as a Family Development Specialist with the State of Missouri and a Home Study Specialist with Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries, both where she licensed and trained foster and adoptive families to care for children who have experienced trauma.

During Carlin’s final year of law school, she interned with the Marion County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office under the direction of Luke A. Bryant, which ultimately led to her current position within that office.

Carlin has been involved in the foster care system in Missouri, specifically northeast Missouri. In 2020, Carlin began establishing a not-for-profit organization, later to be known as EMBRACE Children & Families (“EMBRACE”). EMBRACE was established in March of 2021. Carlin was the founding president of the organization and remained as such until March of 2025 when Carlin and her husband became licensed foster parents. Carlin remains a member of the EMBRACE Fundraising and Events Committee.

Carlin has been involved at the Marion County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for over four years. She has been employed as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for that office for over three and a half years. In August of 2026, Carlin will have had over five years of experience as a prosecuting attorney.

As Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Marion County, Carlin is currently assigned cases involving crimes against persons including but not limited, to domestic assaults, assaults, physical child abuse, stalking, harassment and kidnapping cases.

Previously, Carlin was assigned cases involving property offenses including, but not limited to, traffic, stealing, burglary, forgery, property damage, trespass and financial exploitation of the elderly. Carlin has also handled drug cases, driving while intoxicated cases, resisting arrest cases, sex offender cases and weapons offenses. Carlin has assisted in cases involving child sex crimes as well.

Carlin will be running as a Republican in the Republican primary which will take place in August 2026. Carlin hopes to succeed in the primary and advance to the general election that November.