MECKLENBURG COUNTY Criminal Justice System Homicide Task Force March 24, 2006

Presentation Outline Overview of criminal justice system Overview of criminal justice system –System components –Staffing –Funding –Case load Challenges and opportunities for growth Challenges and opportunities for growth

Criminal Justice System Components Law Enforcement Agencies Law Enforcement Agencies Court Agencies Court Agencies –Judges –Clerk’s Office –Public Defender’s Office –District Attorney’s Office District Court – Misdemeanor / Traffic District Court – Misdemeanor / Traffic Superior Court – Felonies Superior Court – Felonies

Sworn Law Enforcement in Mecklenburg County CMPD 1557 CMPD 1557 MCSO 325 MCSO 325 ABC 12 ABC 12 ALE 15 ALE 15 CMS (School) 16 CMS (School) 16 Cornelius PD 37 Cornelius PD 37 DMV (License & Theft) 20 DMV (License & Theft) 20 Davidson PD 18 Davidson PD 18 Huntersville PD 60 Huntersville PD 60 Johnson C. Smith 6 Johnson C. Smith 6 Matthews PD 55 Matthews PD 55 Metro Special Police 5 Metro Special Police 5 Mint Hill PD 25 Mint Hill PD 25 Pineville PD 37 Pineville PD 37 SBI 25 SBI 25 SHP 33 SHP 33 UNCC 31 UNCC 31 Total Sworn Law Enforcement: 2277 Total Sworn Law Enforcement: 2277

FY06 Funding FY06 Funding Char-Meck Police Department: $155.7 Million Meck. County Sheriff’s Office: $84.6 Million

Offenses Reported to CMPD 2005 Total Offenses Reported 54,844 Total Offenses Reported 54,844 –Homicide 85 –Robbery 3,649 –Burglary 12,783 –Vehicle Theft 7,098 Total Arrests by CMPD 26,741 Total Arrests by CMPD 26,741

Caseload and Staffing Misdemeanor / Traffic Filings – Approx. 190,000 Misdemeanor / Traffic Filings – Approx. 190,000 Felony Filings – Approx. 8,000 Felony Filings – Approx. 8,000 Clerk’s Office – Criminal Division Clerk’s Office – Criminal Division Magistrates – Criminal Magistrates – Criminal District Court Judges District Court Judges Superior Court Judges Superior Court Judges Public Defender Public Defender District Attorney 36 (Permanent State Funded) District Attorney 36 (Permanent State Funded) +16 (County Funded, Other) +16 (County Funded, Other) 52 52

District Attorney Liaison Unit 1 Sergeant and 6 Detectives Manage 800+ cases per month Manage 800+ cases per month Serve subpoenas per month Serve subpoenas per month Locate victims/witnesses in and out of state Locate victims/witnesses in and out of state Assist ADA’s with trial exhibits/presentations Assist ADA’s with trial exhibits/presentations Investigate criminal cases - perjury, “warrant no issue” Investigate criminal cases - perjury, “warrant no issue” Handle Interstate Compacts Handle Interstate Compacts Oversee about 250 Grand Jury cases weekly Oversee about 250 Grand Jury cases weekly Oversee Citizen’s Parole Accountability Committee Oversee Citizen’s Parole Accountability Committee

State Overview

North Carolina ranks TOP in the following categories: –1st in the number of criminal filings per 100,000 population –2nd in the gross number of criminal filings –6th in number of felony filings –10th in overall number of court system filings National Rankings

State Overview Judicial Branch received $342,924,393 or 1.90% of the General Fund in FY 06 Judicial Branch received $342,924,393 or 1.90% of the General Fund in FY 06

Mecklenburg County Overview

County Overview County Overview Mecklenburg has 9% of the NC population and processes 9% of all court cases Mecklenburg has 9% of the NC population and processes 9% of all court cases Mecklenburg logs 20% of Violent Index Crime and 15% of Property Index Crime Mecklenburg logs 20% of Violent Index Crime and 15% of Property Index Crime At the same time, Mecklenburg receives 6.7% of the Judicial Branch budget At the same time, Mecklenburg receives 6.7% of the Judicial Branch budget

County Overview County Overview The County spends more than twice as much to house pretrial prisoners as the State does to support the criminal courts in Mecklenburg County The County spends more than twice as much to house pretrial prisoners as the State does to support the criminal courts in Mecklenburg County

Criminal Justice System Challenges

County Challenges District Courts – 6 District Courts – 6 – –Administrative 2 – –Trial 4 Total Trial Days– 936 Total Trial Days– 936 Superior Courts – 4 Superior Courts – 4 1 Probation Hearings/Misdemeano r Appeals 1 Administrative 2 Felony Trials Total – 912 Superior Court Days Criminal Courts

Mecklenburg County Impact - Technology Judges do not have access to critical information to make informed decisions Judges do not have access to critical information to make informed decisions –Lack access to information on continuances, failures to appear, subpoenas, and payments Court Administrators do not have access to critical information to manage effectively Court Administrators do not have access to critical information to manage effectively –Lack information to organize dockets and measure performance Duplication of effort is common place Duplication of effort is common place Paper process leads to delay, errors and lost information Paper process leads to delay, errors and lost information

Mecklenburg County Impact Staff Turnover resulting from non- competitive salaries: Staff Turnover resulting from non- competitive salaries: –In 2005, the staff turnover percentage for Superior Court, District Court and Clerk’s Office was at least double the State average –56% of Clerk of the Superior Court employees resign within 5 years –In FY05, the Clerk’s Office had a 16% turnover rate

Funding Comparison

DA Staffing Comparison Charlotte, NC Portland, Or Pop.668,003545,271 ADA’s5286* Sup. Staff38132 Judges2638 Judge asst.438 PD’s4050 Felony cases Disposed8,8026,287 * Felony only

Mecklenburg County Impact –In 2005, DA staff turnover was 8% higher than the state average –The DA’s office has lost 53 Assistant District Attorneys in the last 5 years

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Challenges to the Criminal Justice System Inadequate Staffing Levels Inadequate Staffing Levels Staff Turnover Staff Turnover Inadequate Court Information System Inadequate Court Information System Out-Dated PCs Out-Dated PCs Paperbound System Paperbound System Overloaded Telephone System Overloaded Telephone System Limited Case Preparation Time Limited Case Preparation Time Limited Court Time Limited Court Time

Funding Sources State Legislature County Commission City Council

MECKLENBURG COUNTY Criminal Justice System Questions