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Council committee approves expansion of city prosecutor staffing to cover evening hours for faster charging review
Summary
The committee approved increasing the permitted number of prosecutors from 23 to 27 to establish coverage for a 4 p.m.–midnight shift aimed at expediting charging decisions and supporting the county central booking initiative. Staff said the city remains within the 36‑hour statutory charging window.
The council committee approved an ordinance to increase the number of prosecutors allowed in the city prosecutor’s office from 23 to 27 to expand coverage into evening hours.
Aquila Jordan, speaking for the Cleveland city prosecutor’s office, told the committee the additional staff would fund a 4 p.m. to midnight shift so prosecutors can provide faster review of investigations and charging decisions and better support police detectives and the county’s central booking process. “What we're attempting to do is expand our hours... By adding 4 additional prosecutors, we can focus their attention on working that 4 PM to midnight shift,” Jordan said.
Council members sought clarity on whether Cleveland is being held to a different standard than suburban municipalities. Jordan and council leaders stated the city operates within the 36‑hour statutory window for charging and that Law has pressed the county for equal treatment of all municipalities. The committee recommended the ordinance for passage; staff described the change as intended to speed case review and reduce delays in charging decisions.
Outcome: Committee recommended passage; the measure will go to the full council for final action.
