HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/03/2012 07 Effect of Additional Police Officers on the Prosecution Division Workload - Report r
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 7
For Meeting of: April 3, 2012
ITEM TITLE: Report regarding the effect of additional police officers on
the Prosecution Division workload.
SUBMITTED BY: Cynthia Martinez, City Prosecutor
CONTACT ' Cynthia Martinez, City Prosecutor, 575 -6030
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SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
See attached;
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❑ Memo re prosecution division
CITY OF YAKIMA
LEGAL
DEPARTMENT
200 South Third Street, Yakima, WA 98901 -2830 (Phone) 509- 575 -6033 (Fax) 509- 575 -6160
MEMORANDUM
TO Jeff Cutter, City Attorney
FROM Cynthia Martinez
SUBJECT Effect of Additional Officers on the Prosecution Division Workload
I have been asked to address how the addition of 12 Yakima Police Department
(YPD) officers will affect the Prosecution Division workload Of course, one can't
predict the future, but a look at past trends may provide some guidance In
2005, six (6) YPD officer positions were added as a result of the 03% Initiative
approval by the voters YPD began recruiting to fill those positions immediately
and I believe by the end of 2006, most, if not all of those officers were working
By the end of 2006, the Prosecution Division caseload had jumped from 5,933
cases a year to 7,049, an increase of 1,116 cases Fortunately, as a result of
the 03% Initiative we were able to add a prosecutor and a legal assistant
position to meet the demands of the additional caseload
The reduction in YPD officers over the last two years does correlate with a
reduction in the Prosecution caseload See below
PROSECUTORS
TOTAL WORKING THE
YEAR DWI OTHER TRAFFIC OTHER MISDEMEANOR CASELOAD CASELOAD
2007 436 2526 2867 5829 4
2008 517 2488 3027 6032 4
2009 694 2566 2857 6117 4
2010 520 2175 2694 5389 3
2011 469 2122 2551 5142 3
This reduction in caseload, along with some other Council approved measures,
has allowed the Prosecution Division to continue to prosecute all crimes, even
after losing a prosecutor position at the end of 2009
Memo to Jeff Cutter
March 22, 2012
Page - 2
If the increase in caseload is consistent with the increase experienced as a result
of the .03% Initiative passage; when the new officers begin working, I anticipate
an increase in the Prosecution caseload. Using past figures, this increase could
be as high as 2,000 cases per year when all 12 YPD officers are working. This
would increase prosecutor caseload numbers from 1,700 per prosecutor to 2,380
per prosecutor. The legal assistants would also experience a corresponding
increase in workload.
To put these numbers into context, the American Prosecutors Research Institute
and Office of Justice Programs recommend that a prosecutor handle a caseload
of 400 -590 misdemeanor cases a year. Last time the Prosecution Division
conducted a poll, the county and city prosecution caseloads across the State
were from 800 to 1,200 cases per prosecutor.
This change also comes at a time when the Washington Supreme Court is
considering a rule that would limit public defender caseload numbers to no more
than 300 cases per year. If an increase of 2,000 cases is realized, the City could
face the prospect of hiring an additional 6 -7 defense attorneys just to handle this
increased caseload.
Numbers are on a per year basis.
' How Many Cases Should a Prosecutor Handle? Results of the National Workload Assessment Project,
Chapter 5, American Prosecutors Research Institute,. 2002.