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County attorney details caseload trends, rising mental‑health commitments and staffing pressures
Summary
County Attorney Brian Milton reported growth in caseloads tied to population increases, rising commitments and mental‑health needs, and recommended planning for additional judges and attorneys in coming years; he flagged workforce retention as a priority.
County Attorney Brian Milton delivered the office's annual update Tuesday, describing caseload trends, drug and mental‑health issues, and the office's staffing and facility needs.
Milton said Clay County's population rose roughly 28.5% over the last two decades and noted corresponding growth across many civil and criminal case types. He reported that drug cases remain significant along interstate corridors and that the office has seen larger drug seizures in 2024, including methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl. Milton warned about the appearance of xylazine (an animal tranquilizer) mixed with fentanyl in some regional fentanyl cases.
Milton said commitments and mental‑health matters continue to increase and recommended planning for additional treatment capacity, including residential mental‑health resources and juvenile PRTF placements. He said the county's justice center is configured to add courtroom capacity and that the county attorney's office likely will need two additional attorneys in the next 3— years and additional staff within 10—5 years if current trends continue.
On workforce concerns, Milton said attorney turnover is driven partly by market wage differences and public defender and other salary increases across the state. He recommended examining market‑level wages and retention strategies in the next budget cycle to keep the office fully staffed.
Milton highlighted specialty courts (drug court, veterans court and a newly formed DWI court) and restorative justice efforts as key programs that reduce recidivism and offload cases from district courts.
Ending: Milton asked the board to continue supporting judicial and prosecutor staffing plans and to consider facility and IT needs (notably body‑camera storage) as the county prepares for future caseload growth.
