State’s attorney outlines veterans deferment program, victim impact panel and budget line items

State’s Attorney Joe told the Law and Justice Committee on July 22 that his office operates a veterans deferred‑prosecution program, runs a monthly victim impact panel, and expects several recurring budget line items related to appellate assistance and legal research.

Joe described a veterans deferment or deferred‑prosecution process for eligible veterans that uses contracts similar to those in problem‑solving court programs. He said about a dozen veterans have used the program in roughly the past 18 months; cases that are higher‑level class X offenses are excluded.

On victim impact panels, Joe said the program meets monthly (the last Wednesday of the month) and that speakers who lost family members to drunk driving share their experiences. He said defendants ordered to attend the panel pay $25 in cash, which is tracked by the program.

On budget items, Joe described increases in appellate assistance costs handled by the state appellate prosecutor’s office, and a rise in Westlaw (legal research) and software storage expenses. He said some travel and education costs increased because investigators require out‑of‑state training on phone forensics and interstate rules for weight enforcement. Joe said the county’s share of appellate assistance is driven by statewide appellate caseloads and that state funding supports much of the appellate office’s work.

Joe also said some positions and services in his office are funded in part by grants; he noted a crime victims/witness coordinator whose salary is paid about three quarters by grant funding. The committee approved the state’s attorney’s monthly bills as presented.

No changes to statutes or county policies were proposed during the budget discussion.