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Eaton County prosecutor outlines heavy caseloads, staffing shortfalls and stakes of proposed public safety millage
Summary
Prosecutor Doug Lloyd summarized his office27s responsibilities, case volumes, diversion work and staffing pressures, and said the proposed public safety millage would help with recruitment and retention though would not create new authority to prosecute cases.
Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd told the Public Safety Committee on Jan. 4 that his office carries more than 500 statutory and court-rule responsibilities, has reviewed thousands of cases over the last year, and faces staffing and retention challenges that the board27s proposed public safety millage is intended to address.
Lloyd said the prosecutor27s office reviewed and made charging decisions on more than 5,000 cases last year and noticed counsel to attend more than 10,000 hearings; he said the office diverts or denies nearly one-third of incoming matters after review. He described specialty work including child-support enforcement, juvenile delinquency prosecutions for county residents regardless of where offenses occurred, appellate and extradition responsibilities, coordination with victims and victim advocates, and participation in specialty courts and child-death review.
The prosecutor described the Economic Crime Unit, based in Lansing Mall since 2002, which he said has diverted thousands of cases and returned more than $9.6 million to area merchants while operating without county subsidy. Lloyd said his office has 11 attorneys and that, because of turnover and pay differences with other employers, the office has lost significant years of experience in recent years. He said many prosecutors and legal assistants work beyond standard hours to keep up with screenings and case preparation and that recruitment and retention are key needs.
When a commissioner asked whether the millage would allow the office to prosecute more offenders, Lloyd replied that it would not change the office27s charging authority. Instead, he said, funding would be aimed at recruitment and retention to avoid cutting services. Lloyd said if the millage does not pass, he may have to consider limiting services or reducing hours to protect staff from burnout.
County Controller Connie Sobe (acting in her administrative role during the meeting) clarified the makeup of the prosecutor27s staff for the board, noting victim-witness and child-support units, the Economic Crime Unit27s staffing, and that the office includes investigators and additional administrative positions in addition to attorneys and legal assistants.
Lloyd introduced Chief Assistant Chris Anderson and said either of them will appear at future public safety meetings with updates.
