Mohave County attorney warns of prosecution backlog and seeks more staff
Loading...
Summary
County Attorney Smith told the Board of Supervisors the office faces a sustained caseload increase, long disclosure work, and turnover that has created a backlog of more than 600 unreviewed criminal cases; she asked to unfreeze positions and fund disclosure specialists and an additional prosecutor.
County Attorney Smith told the Mohave County Board of Supervisors on April 7 that the county's prosecutor staffing has not kept pace with population growth, producing a backlog of unreviewed cases and heavy workloads for existing lawyers.
Smith, who identified herself as having worked in the office since 1987, said felony filings in 2024 exceeded 3,000 reviewed matters and that the office handled more than 2,600 felony filings last year — substantially more than peer counties while staffing remained comparatively small. "We have 603 cases right now that need to be reviewed," Smith said, adding that many of the oldest files have been waiting months. She described long hours of disclosure work — reviewing body- and squad-car video for redactions and disclosure — and said six employees work full time on that task.
The county attorney outlined specific requests for the upcoming budget cycle: unfreezing several office specialist positions that handle disclosure and seeking a previously frozen attorney position to reduce caseload pressure and turnover. Smith also described an attorney-intern program intended to recruit local students and law students for future hiring.
Smith explained the office's division structure (felony prosecution, a MAGNET drug-prosecution unit, a DCAC team for dangerous crimes against children, a civil division advising county departments, and a victim-witness unit) and said the office carries specialty caseloads — DUIs, domestic violence and child-abuse prosecutions — that require more staff time than routine misdemeanor files.
Board members asked about recruitment barriers and possible remedies. Smith said competition from other Arizona counties and city prosecutor offices, plus a rise in law students entering practice already tied to jobs, has reduced the available applicant pool. "Getting people here that are single and they're looking for that first job is a lot easier than getting people here that are a little bit older, a little bit more seasoned or married," she said. Supervisors thanked the attorney and staff for the work and discussed options including pay and local recruitment strategies.
The presentation concluded with a unanimous acknowledgement from the board that the office needs help; supervisors encouraged staff to seek recruitment and retention measures during the budget process.
Why it matters: The county attorney's staffing level affects how quickly violent felony cases, child-abuse prosecutions, and other criminal matters proceed. A sustained backlog increases pressure on judges, public defenders, victims, and law enforcement and can affect public safety and case outcomes.
Looking ahead: Smith asked that the Board consider funding the unfreezing of disclosure specialist positions and one attorney mid-year and that the board follow the budget process for longer-term solutions.
