Prosecutor's office reports continued criminal staffing gaps, returning assistant chief and rising juvenile referrals

The county’s prosecuting office updated the board on hiring and caseload issues. The presenter said the civil division is fully staffed with three attorneys, while the criminal unit continues to experience vacancies. Two candidates have accepted contingent positions pending bar exam results, and a former assistant chief will rejoin the office June 16 to help shore up capacity.

"Our civil department's fully staffed with three attorneys," the presenter said; on the criminal side the office has been "struggling with hiring individuals" and had multiple openings. The presenter cautioned that offers contingent on bar passage mean some positions will not be filled until candidates receive exam results in mid‑September or later.

The office also reported that turnaround times at the crime lab (about a year to 18 months) have created delays in evidence availability that slow trials, though staff said the office continues to file cases. Additionally, juvenile referrals have risen from post‑COVID lows to the low 200s, a change partly attributed to school districts referring more incidents to prosecutors rather than resolving matters administratively.

Staff said the county has contributed to an independent caseload study and expects results and updates at an upcoming elected‑official webinar; they also discussed recruitment challenges, bar‑exam pass rates and the limited availability of prosecutor‑focused grants and internships.