Most of you haven’t been the victim of a felony, and I hope you never are. If it happens though, I’ve got news for you. Though you may live in the fastest growing county in the state, you have a shrinking felony division in your prosecutor’s office. As a result, there are more than 1,500 felony cases piled up, awaiting review. So, if your car is stolen or house broken into, and the culprit gets caught, it might be a long time before we can get to your case. Why? Basic arithmetic is on the side of the crooks.
In 1999, approximately 4,600 felony cases were investigated and sent to us by city, state and county law enforcement. There were 43 felony prosecutors to handle them, and they were busy. By 2004, though, more than 6,700 felony cases came in, but because of budget cuts we actually had three fewer felony prosecutors. This year, we’ll approach 7,000 felonies. What’s the result of a huge increase in work load, with a decrease in work force? Much the same as when the plumbing backs up at your house. Things overflow. It’s a mess. We don’t like it, and doubt you do either. We want to provide justice, but often we can’t.
More citizens, cars, crooks and crimes has meant more cases. There’s no mystery why with 2,000 more felonies a year, and less folks to handle them, we can’t keep up. I am in charge of the criminal division, but feel like a baseball manager with only six players to fill nine positions. No matter where I put them, how good they are or how fast they move, they can’t cover the whole field. It’s impossible. Other criminal justice departments are also struggling, and being buried under the avalanche of felony cases. The Superior Court, for example, where felonies must be filed, hasn’t grown since 1999. While our county has grown dramatically, we just haven’t grown with it. We need your help.
In Friday’s budget address, the county executive spoke of biodiesel, new parks, fighting meth, and a rainy day fund. These are all great things, and as an 18-year resident of Stanwood, I think every one is worthwhile. I have to wonder, though, how much that biodiesel helps you if you don’t have a fuel tank to put it in because your car was stolen. How do we fight meth without people to prosecute the users and dealers, and will you even take your kids to those new parks if crooks and users got there first?
The executive also spoke of adding 10 more sheriff’s deputies, which sounds great too. But what good does it do if there aren’t enough prosecutors to keep the people in jail that they put there, or prosecute the cases they send? Hasn’t something been forgotten? Rainy day funds are important too, but I guess I am writing to say this: As far as prosecuting felons goes, this is the rainy day. It’s raining felonies, and because we don’t have enough prosecutors, staff or victim advocates, a lot of crime victims are getting soaked.
I understand that your county executive and council have a difficult job trying to create and balance your county budget, and that they didn’t cause the growth that’s created this mess. They are, however, the only ones who can address it. The executive’s proposed budget added no personnel to our felony division. So over the next month your elected prosecutor, Janice Ellis, and I will be talking to the County Council about the bare minimum we need to do our job. We know they’ll listen, and we believe they’ll help if they can.
If you agree that having enough prosecutors to keep up with the felons is important, contact your councilman. Those of us who work in the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney’s office want you to know that we live here too, and pay taxes just like you. We’re your friends and neighbors. We all want the same things you do, including safe neighborhoods, and a justice system that works for the victims, not just the offenders. To help accomplish those things, many of us work long hours, and often lug a box of files home to work on after we put our kids to bed. We still can’t keep up.
During the last 18 years I have had more crime victims come through my door than you could ever imagine. I’ve met devastated, shell-shocked parents of murdered children, angry victims of car thefts, and everyone in between. Every felony case is important, every victim deserves justice, and every prosecutor wants to deliver it. Right now, though, an awful lot of victims can’t get justice because we don’t have enough people to open a file on their case, or a prosecutor to assign it to. With your help, and the help of your County Council, maybe that will change.
Mark Roe is the chief criminal deputy in the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office.
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