Jackson County prosecutor: budget impasse is curtailing violence-prevention programs, court work

The Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney (name not provided in the transcript) told the Jackson County Legislature on May 14, 2025, that the county’s ongoing budget impasse is forcing the office to reduce preventive programming, limit court transcripts and expert retention, defer trainings and merit increases, and delay certain contracts — steps the prosecutor said are already affecting victims, witnesses and case outcomes.

The prosecutor described preventive efforts run or supported by the COMBAT fund that cannot proceed without a budget resolution, saying the office had planned “to identify 20 of the most prolific juvenile offenders and create a summer internship program” with cognitive behavioral therapy and mentorship but “we are not able to do that because we are well into May and still do not have a resolution.”

The prosecutor told legislators that case preparation is being affected because the office is ordering fewer deposition transcripts and cannot retain certain experts. “If we do not order those transcripts … we can’t use them at trial,” the prosecutor said, and warned that a reduced ability to hire or consult experts also influences…