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State's Attorney seeks three prosecutors and full-time victim-witness director; cites surge in jury trials
Summary
State's Attorney Jamie Sterling asked commissioners for funding of three additional assistant state's attorneys and to pay the full director for victim-witness services (county share of a position currently 50% grant-funded), citing a 261% increase in contested criminal jury trials since 2019 and high caseloads per prosecutor.
State's Attorney Jamie Sterling told the Board of Commissioners on March 4 that her office needs three additional assistant state's attorneys and full county funding for the director of victim-witness services to maintain current prosecution levels.
Sterling said the office has used grant funding successfully to create an evidence-review unit and victim services positions (she said the office secured $680,000 in one recent grant and about $1.5 million in grants over two years). Sterling credited partnerships with the sheriff's office and state police for evidence and arrests but said prosecutorial capacity is the limiting factor.
Why it matters: Sterling cited data from the judiciary showing St. Mary's County’s circuit-court contested criminal jury trials increased 261% from 2019 to 2024 and said in 2024 the circuit-court division handled 458 circuit cases with 11 circuit-court attorneys (about 42 cases per attorney). By comparison, Sterling said Calvert County had 239 circuit cases with 12 circuit-court attorneys (about 24 cases per attorney). Sterling described those numbers as unsustainable and asked the county to consider three additional prosecutors (a roughly 17.6% staffing increase) and to convert a 50% grant-funded victim-witness director position to full county funding to strengthen program continuity and grant competitiveness.
Commissioners praised the office's grant success and fiscal restraint but said final decisions must wait until the county has greater clarity about state budget actions that could change local revenue. Several commissioners said they were sympathetic and will consider the request when the county finalizes the FY26 budget.
Ending: Sterling said her office will continue work using current vacancy management and grant-funded hourly hires but reiterated the ask for three prosecutors and a fully county-funded victim-witness director to sustain increased trial activity and reduce strain on staff.
