Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Safety to enter into a grant agreement with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners for the purpose of providing financial assistance for the expansion of the County’s Gun Violence Reduction Initiative. In 2021, Franklin County is trending toward 1,200 illegal gun possession cases, which is a sixty-seven percent (67%) increase over 2015 levels. If current trends prevail, this will represent the highest number of Franklin County illegal gun possession cases on record. Unfortunately, there have been similar upward trends in gun related homicides and non-fatal shootings. In an effort to reduce illegal gun possessions and the gun violence that results, the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney is working to expand its personnel to effectively administer these cases and to provide options/programs for non-violent offenders. The gun unit of the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office currently staffs five (5) attorneys. Given the current pace, each prosecutor is anticipated to administer in upwards of 235 cases in 2021. This represents a 31 percent (31%) increase in case load since 2015.
The gun unit of the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office attempts to impact the violent crime rate with each case administered. This unit assesses all available options, including determining if a misdemeanor charge is appropriate so as not to negatively impact employment or other opportunities to contribute to society. The Office also looks at Community Control, or probation, as an option for non-violent offenders. Of course if a defendant does pose a risk to society, the Office makes every attempt to protect the community from violent offenders.
City granted funds will be used by Franklin County to add two (2) additional prosecuting attorneys. The addition of these positions is anticipated to reduce (per attorney) case load to 168 and therefore allow for more effective case management. The ...
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