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County Attorney Maybanks previews courthouse renovation, rehabilitation docket and legislative priorities
Summary
County Attorney Nick Maybanks updated supervisors on courthouse renovations set to add an accessible courtroom, described work by a rehabilitation prosecutor to expand diversion options including a Harvest Academy program, and said his office is pursuing legislation to criminalize groping and to reform public-records obligations for law-enforcement materials.
County Attorney Nick Maybanks told the Board of Supervisors that Garland Construction is preparing the courthouse second floor for a new accessible courtroom and that that phase should be completed by September, with subsequent fit-out on upper floors. "Basically, what they're doing is they're preparing our 2nd Floor... for the new courtroom," he said. (Speaker 4)
Maybanks said the rehabilitation prosecutor position recently approved by the board has been assigned to Assistant County Attorney Catherine Shimkat, who will work on referrals to rehabilitation programs. He described a model called the Harvest Academy — a South-Central Iowa residential program run in part by a private moving company that accepts ex-offenders into an about 18-month program combining life skills training and employment — and said his office will watch and potentially refer eligible defendants. (Speaker 4)
On prosecution and docket management, Maybanks said recent coordination with the district court increased resolutions in an abuse-case backlog by about 55% over eight months. "We've increased resolutions by 55% just in the last 8 months," he said. (Speaker 4)
Maybanks also previewed legislative priorities his office will support this session: creating a distinct offense for criminal groping in Iowa, and pursuing public-records reforms to reduce burdensome requests for law-enforcement records held by elected offices. He said he plans to attend the attorney general's press conference in support of statewide victim-protection measures and to work with the attorney general's office on shared objectives. (Speaker 4)
Maybanks announced staffing moves and recognitions: a new legal assistant, Britney Ward from private practice, and statewide honors for staff — Monica Slaughter received the Iowa County Attorneys Association Staff Attorney Award of Merit and Molly Edwards will receive the Iowa Governor's Service Award for work on human trafficking. (Speaker 4)
Maybanks said he will present budget details at a future budget session and will report further on impacts of the rehabilitation docket and other office priorities.
