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Circuit Attorney Gabriel Gore seeks fuller staffing, diversion and conviction‑integrity funding
Summary
Circuit Attorney Gabriel Gore told the Budget & Public Employees Committee the office has rebuilt attorney and support staff after several years of shrinkage, is expanding diversion and conviction‑integrity units, and needs continued funding to retain newly recruited prosecutors and IT support.
Circuit Attorney Gabriel Gore asked the Board of Aldermen’s Budget & Public Employees Committee on May 7 to sustain investments that have rebuilt the prosecutor’s office and to fill outstanding attorney and technical positions.
Gore outlined hiring progress since his appointment, saying the office rose from about 22 trial attorneys at the time of his arrival to 48 assistant circuit attorneys currently, and that an incoming class of law‑school graduates and experienced prosecutors would bring the number closer to his FY26 budget target of 60. “This group represents hundreds of years of prosecutorial experience,” Gore said, adding the office has also hired 58 support staff to improve case processing.
Why it matters: The circuit attorney’s capacity directly affects prosecution timelines, backlog reduction and public‑safety outcomes. Gore said staffing and technology investments allow the office to pursue more trials and plea resolutions while expanding diversion programs that aim to reduce reoffending.
Program changes and needs - Diversion and community engagement: Gore said the office relaunched a restructured diversion program in January 2024 and has added case managers, a unit supervisor and a dedicated treatment‑court attorney. He highlighted a new monthly “tap‑in center” at a City library where people can resolve outstanding warrants without arrest. - Conviction integrity: The office created a conviction‑integrity position and credited pro bono partnerships — notably Thompson Coburn in the Christopher Dunn review and exoneration — for handling complex innocence reviews. - Technology and data: Gore said new data analysts and crime analysts are improving case development and courtroom evidence; the office also received IT‑related positions but has struggled to fill IT roles because of market competition. - Compensation and retention: Gore said the office granted raises to support staff and attorneys in December 2023 and December 2024 to remain more competitive with St. Louis County and other jurisdictions. He asked the committee to ensure the citywide 3% pay action is applied to the office’s FY26 budget, which budget staff said would be reconciled.
Discussion and follow‑up Committee members praised the office’s increased community engagement and treatment court work and asked for more data on trial and plea activity. Alderman Aldo Mansaniye and others said neighborhood connections and the Citizens Academy work could improve public perception and cooperation. Gore and operations manager Becky Rincher said most support‑staff positions are filled and that unfilled roles are concentrated in IT and the newly expanded data/analytics manager role.
Outcome: Gore requested funding for two additional attorney‑1 positions and several paralegal and administrative roles that remain unfunded in FY26. He and committee members agreed to follow up with the budget office on the 3% raise accounting and on steps to fill IT and analyst roles that are critical to leveraging newly hired attorneys.
Ending: Committee members signaled continued support but asked for regular performance data from the circuit attorney’s office on hires, trial activity, diversion outcomes and technology milestones.
