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County attorney highlights caseload growth, video‑evidence needs; victim services reports expanded juvenile diversion work
Summary
County Attorney Melton summarized staff levels, case volumes and technology needs; victim services reported an increase in juvenile diversion referrals, grant‑funded restorative practices and restitution requests totaling roughly $296,000 for individual victims.
County Attorney Melton updated the board on legal workloads, staffing and technology needs, then Michelle presented victim services and juvenile diversion accomplishments and needs.
Melton said the office budget is approximately $2.5 million with a full complement of assistants and support staff; clearance rates are around 88 percent and the office processed roughly 2,000 new cases last year. He emphasized rising needs related to video evidence storage and the administrative workload to prepare numerous trials and disclosures. Melton noted trends such as increased mental‑health commitments and appellate work following a busy year of jury trials.
Michelle outlined victim services staffing, the plan to hire a part‑time victim/witness coordinator for juvenile matters, and restorative‑practices grant activity that increased presence in schools. She reported 253 juvenile diversion referrals (180 within Moorhead, 42 outside Moorhead, 31 incidents in Moorhead with nonresidents), and restitution requests that included 43 individual requests totaling $296,000 and business claims totaling approximately $3,444 (as recorded in transcript formatting). She told the board the team is working to align grant narratives with state expectations to remain competitive in upcoming grant cycles.
Commissioners commended the staff and recognized the need for continued grant‑writing and program evaluation partnerships. The board had no formal policy vote on these presentations but expressed support for victim services and juvenile diversion efforts.
