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Prosecutor seeks new case-management software and restored felony deputy amid rising caseloads
Summary
The county prosecutor requested one‑time funding to implement an e‑prosecutor case-management system and asked the commission to restore a senior deputy prosecutor position to reduce high felony workloads; staff said implementation would cost about $70,000 with ongoing licensing near $35,000 annually.
Jeff, the county prosecuting attorney, told commissioners that his office is seeking one‑time funding for a new case‑management system and asked to restore a senior deputy prosecutor position to handle felony caseloads that he said have become too large for current staffing.
On software, Jeff and his staff described e‑prosecutor as a replacement for the county’s current case-management arrangement and said an initial implementation and transition could cost roughly $70,000, with ongoing annual licensing expected near $35,000. Sean (office staff) told commissioners the initial $70,000 estimate is intended to include transition work and that subsequent annual licensing would be roughly $35,000 and represent a roughly $15,000 annual increase over current costs.
On staffing, Jeff asked that the county restore a senior deputy position focused on felony matters. He said the office currently handles roughly 550 open felony matters with 5.5 full‑time prosecutors assigned, or about 100 open felony cases per prosecutor, a workload he said exceeds public‑defense guidelines and constrains prosecutors’ ability to manage cases and prepare for trial. Jeff described the request as necessary to reduce individual caseloads and preserve public safety by allowing timely case processing.
Child-support and other line items: staff noted the prosecutor’s overall 2026 request includes child-support budget changes that are funded separately by state grants. County finance staff summarized the total increase tied to the prosecutor and child‑support lines at about $270,430, with a significant portion attributable to salary and benefits; the office said some of the software cost would be offset by reductions in existing systems and by sharing configuration work already completed by Benton County.
No formal vote was taken. Commissioners asked staff for clarifications on how the software integrates with local law‑enforcement evidence portals and for detailed cost schedules and implementation timing before the final budget hearings.
