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Essex County prosecutor outlines caseload growth, staffing gains and grant uncertainty in budget hearing
Summary
Essex County Prosecutor Stevens told commissioners the office handled higher case volume in 2024 while homicides remained essentially flat. He described progress raising starting assistant prosecutor pay and recruiting via university internship pipelines, but flagged possible short-term grant delays from the federal executive order.
Essex County Prosecutor Stevens told county commissioners on the second night of budget hearings that the office saw a substantive rise in filings in 2024 even as homicides stayed roughly level.
Stevens said the number of cases started in 2024 rose to 13,729 from 12,158 in 2023 while the number of cases disposed rose to about 14,650 from 12,500, reflecting a heavier workload and increased court capacity that the office has been working to absorb.
The prosecutor emphasized recruitment and retention as priorities. Stevens said the office raised its starting assistant prosecutor salary to $71,000 and has bolstered internship partnerships with Pace…
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