Prosecutor reports digital tools rollout and Cass County'led diversion pilot expansion

A representative for the prosecutor's office told the commission the office started using the legislature-funded eProsecutor digital file-management system on April 13 and that staff are adapting to the new workflow. "It's a change. It has gained them basically nothing. So, status quo ... but people are adapting to it," the speaker said.

By contrast, the office reported strong feedback on "Acts on Justice," the commission-funded digital evidence management program and a grant-sourced tool that a staff member helped obtain. The speaker said Highway Patrol joining the platform on June 1 will improve evidence-sharing for one of the office's teams.

The prosecutor's office also described Cass County as one of three pilot locations for a prosecution-led diversion program. "Cass County has had the highest number of participants," the speaker told the commission, and the local pilot has so far handled lower-level offenses and is preparing to expand to drug paraphernalia and possession cases to link people quickly to treatment.

The office reported a notable uptick in jury trials this year (eight so far) including multi-day personal-crime trials; the most recent concluded with a guilty verdict in a gross sexual imposition case. Staffing updates included a newly started victim-witness coordinator, four viable candidates for an attorney vacancy with an offer expected by week's end, and several temporary employees assisting file digitization.

The prosecutor framed training as a priority, citing plans to send staff to national conferences and a recruitment event with UND law students this fall.

No formal action was taken; the update will inform internal operations and budget planning.