Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Prosecution Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Municipal prosecutor reports staffing gains and sharp drop in dismissal backlog
Summary
Municipal prosecutors said staffing and process changes have reduced speedy‑trial dismissals from an estimated 500 in 2024 to 55 so far in 2025; the office expects a final vendor selection for an APD policy review within weeks and a six‑month timeline for the vendor’s report.
Dennis Wheeler, the principal municipal prosecutor, told the Executive Council that the prosecutor’s office was “woefully understaffed” when he arrived in October but has since increased hiring, repaired internal processes and added case‑tracking reports that have substantially reduced case dismissals for failure to prosecute.
Wheeler said an estimated nearly 500 dismissals in 2024 were driven in part by understaffing, broken equipment and an incomplete case‑management workflow that left attorneys unable to prioritize time‑sensitive cases. Since implementing new reporting tools and operational changes, he said dismissals have dropped to about 55 so far in 2025, with March and April showing more stable numbers.
Wheeler and municipal staff also said they are nearing the end of a procurement process for a broad APD policy review that was launched after an August 2024 officer‑involved shooting. The office expects to report a vendor selection to the assembly within two to three weeks and anticipates a six‑month contract timeline for the full review, with interim public reporting during the work.
Assembly members asked about retention and whether salary and benefits affect prosecutors’ tenure; speakers said pay adjustments helped recruitment and that some attorneys still leave for state, federal or private practice positions. The chair asked for follow‑up data on average tenure and turnover drivers; Wheeler agreed to provide additional information offline.
Why it matters: Prosecutor staffing and case‑management practices directly affect whether criminal cases proceed to trial and whether victims see timely resolution; the office reported substantial process progress but acknowledged ongoing recruitment and retention challenges.
