1. Des Moines Municipal Court
State of the Court
May 11th, 2017
Hon. Lisa M. Leone

2. Mission:
Des Moines Municipal Court is dedicated to the fair, impartial, and timely administration of justice, providing the community it serves with a safe and accessible environment that is respectful to all.
The business of the Court shall be conducted with integrity, competence, and a commitment to excellence, in order to promote public trust and confidence in our system of justice.

3. Vision: Justice in the City of Des Moines will be accessible, fair, effective, responsive, and accountable.
To be accessible: DMMC will be convenient, understandable, timely, and affordable to everyone.
To be fair: DMMC will respect the dignity of every person, regardless of race, class, gender or other characteristic, apply the law appropriately to the circumstances of individual cases, and include judges and court staff who reflect the community’s diversity.
To be effective: DMMC will uphold the law and apply rules and procedures consistently and in a timely manner, resolve cases with finality, and provide enforceable decisions.
To be responsive: DMMC will anticipate and respond to the needs of all members of society, and use evidence-based practices to tailor individual sentences.
To be accountable: DMMC will use public resources efficiently and in a way that the public can understand.

4. Current Staffing Levels
Court Administrator
Admin Staff
1 Lead Clerk
4 Clerks (4th F/T Clerk added in 2016)
1 Clerk (Limited Term Position)
Probation Officer (.70 FTE)
Court Security Staff
Court Security Officer (.70 FTE)
2 Court Marshalls (.50 FTE)

5. Current Court-Related Issues / Programs
Workload Increase: 300% increase in filings due to implementation of traffic safety cameras
Probation: Anger Management MRT offered on-site at cost; DOC Work Crew as alternative to confinement; continuing to expand Court Resource Center
Court Security Upgrades: Enactment of GR 36 (Court Rule passed by State Supreme Court mandating court security standards)
Funding for DV Advocate (City Attorney’s Office): Present for NCO Lift and Related Hearings
FUTURE: Request to Increase Probation to FTE in 2018 due to New hires at PD, Explore Feasiblity of DUI Court, Youth Traffic Court

6. Technology Improvements 2016 -2017
O-Court Case Management System (CodeSmart, Inc.)
On-line Adjudication for Civil Infractions (DMMC is Pilot Court)
Jury Management (sends out notices, tracks payments, tracks excused/rescheduling)
Addition of Translated Forms
N-Court / Paymentus
Automated Receipting for Online Payments (In Process)

7. Criminal Charges Filed (2013-Present)

8. Criminal Court Hearings (2013-Present)

9. Civil Infractions Filed (2013-Present)

10. Hearings on Civil Infractions (2013-Present)

11. Probation Services
Ms. Patrick became a Certified Facilitator of “Coping with Anger MRT”
Serves as Misdemeanant Corrections Association PR Chair
Serves as District & Municipal Court Judges’ Association Liaison
Current as of
4/28/17
Probation
Caseload
Total Number of Probationers
358
DV-Related Convictions
125
DUI-Related Convictions
156
Other Crimes 60
**Court will be requesting to Increase Probation to FTE in 2018 due to new hires at PD.