DA seeks full-time attorney; HHS reports small jail-therapy staffing increase

The district attorney’s office told the CCP executive committee it seeks to convert two part-time roles into one full-time attorney to secure experienced, specialized counsel, including support for the special victims unit. A DA representative said the change aims to reduce turnover in a hard-to-fill part-time position and estimated the cost increase would cover benefits. "We are wanting to make this into a full time position... it is historically very difficult to hire a part time temporary attorney," the DA representative said.

Health & Human Services also raised a staffing-cost change for a jail station therapist, describing the increase as tied to staffing costs and noting the item could be considered as an innovation application depending on fit and timing.

Why it matters: the DA staffing change affects prosecution capacity and specialty-court support; the HHS therapist affects in-custody mental-health coverage. Committee members asked clarifying questions about hours and billing; staff said the DA request is intended to merge two part-time positions into a single full-time role and that benefits drove much of the increase.

Next steps: both requests will be carried into the follow-up budget workshop so members can resolve funding details, including exact cost figures and whether the HHS request should be categorized as innovation or ongoing operational spending.