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County attorney reports heavy caseload, hiring challenges and falling crime rates
Summary
County Attorney Melissa Johnson told commissioners the office is under strain from a high caseload, ongoing hiring difficulties and a backlog of cases the office has been reducing; she also cited state data showing a recent decline in violent and property crime rates.
Melissa Johnson, the county attorney, told the Board of County Commissioners the office remains understaffed and is pursuing recruitment and retention strategies while working down a previously large backlog of cases.
Johnson said the office is on pace to file about 500 criminal cases this year (roughly 10 per week) and currently had about 1,600 open cases, down substantially from earlier counts. She said the office presently has 12 homicides or attempted homicides and about 16 aggravated assault cases filed or under review. The…
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