Ferguson calls for critical public safety investments in Prosecuting Attorney’s office

February 2, 2011

Summary

Use part of $1.5 million set aside for criminal prosecutions, gangs, and gun-violence

Story

Bob Ferguson, Chair of the Metropolitan King County Council’s Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee, today called for critical public safety investments in the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to ensure public safety.

“Public safety is my number one concern,” said Ferguson. “By making a number of targeted investments, we can continue to prosecute dangerous crimes and keep criminals out of our communities.”

“I appreciate the Council's attention to the urgent needs of the Prosecuting Attorney's Office, which will contribute to the overall efficiency of the criminal justice system and public safety,” said King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg who testified before today’s Law, Justice, Health, and Human Services Committee on the status of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

In letters to the Executive and the Chair of the Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee, Ferguson requested the use of the Criminal Justice Reserve adopted as part of the 2011 King County Budget for the Prosecutor’s Office to deal with the growing backlog in criminal cases and the rise of violent crimes, such as aggravated assault.

Ferguson wrote:

“Without action, the criminal backlog will build in the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Judges may be forced to release dangerous felons awaiting trial into the community because speedy trial requirements are not met. Victims will suffer as cases go unfiled. Defendants may lose access to certain treatment options designed to keep them from becoming repeat offenders. Criminals will be emboldened as the justice system slows and crimes go unpunished.

“Consequently, I believe we should make several critical public safety investments in the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. For example, we can fund deputy prosecutors to deal with the backlog and keep criminal prosecutions moving. We can provide bridge funding for programs that target gang violence and gun-related crime to keep violent crime in check.”

The 2011 budget required cuts in King County’s criminal justice system in order to close a $60 million general fund budget shortfall. In the budget, the Council set aside a $1.5 million Criminal Justice Reserve to respond to threats to public safety and to ensure the smooth functioning of the criminal justice system.

Since 2008, the PAO has lost 51 employees, including 36 deputy prosecutors. During this same period in King County, aggravated assaults have increased 42 percent, robberies are up 31 percent and 48 homicides are pending in the office.