The City of Spokane s Third Degree Strategy. An Approach to Case Prioritization. Mary Muramatsu Spokane City Prosecutor s Office

Transcription

1 The City of Spokane s Third Degree Strategy An Approach to Case Prioritization Mary Muramatsu Spokane City Prosecutor s Office

2 A Diversion Program Designed to: Remove large segment of low level crimes from criminal dockets Reduce caseload for public defenders Expedite time to disposition Eliminate jail stays by this offender population

3 Intersection of Realities State Supreme Court review of public defender caseloads Reduction in force: loss of prosecutor positions No reduction in mandated prosecution Political expectations to drive down jail costs Internal impetus to review business practices

4 The Energy of a Justice Philosophy Agenda of case prioritization Management philosophy of case distribution and work ethic Debate about how justice is served Blueprint to stop the revolving door Discussion about the value of a case

5 Sustains City Revenues The City runs a Relicensing Program Generates revenues through unpaid court fines Success due to county wide reach and participation of multiple jurisdictions Motivation to sustain this program

6 Serves Larger Justice Interest Appeals to the self motivation of drivers to drive legally Gets drivers back on the right side of the law Encourages responsibility through payment of obligations

7 Fulfills Policy Objectives Legislative objective of RCW to assist suspended drivers to regain their license and insurance and pay outstanding fines Responsibility of being licensed and insured back to drivers Recovery by multiple jurisdictions of uncollectable fines

8 Uncollectable Money Now Paid Commencement of CRP through Present: $1,944,998.00

9 Pulled from Collections: Total: $8,926, Nearly $2 million of that paid

10 Specifics of 3 rd Degree Strategy Addresses all cases for which DWLS 3 rd Degree is the sole criminal charge A new Notice of Infraction is written to replace each criminal citation charging DWLS 3 rd degree One of two infractions: Possession of an Invalid License Operating a Motor Vehicle Without a License

11 A Promotional Strategy Sets these newly written infractions to a special diversion for relicensing docket 1 st contact with Relicensing Program occurs in the courtroom Information re benefits of program reaches every unlicensed or suspended driver

12 A Diversion Strategy For those eligible, finds them committed on infractions and sets time payment 180 days out. Gives 30 days to pay $100 admin fee and enter the CRP Provides ample time for tier two and tier three to complete 180 days from court date Obligation to pay all fines referencing this ticket evaporates upon completion of the Relicensing Program

13 Designed to Incentivize Allows driver to avoid stigma of a criminal charge Reaches out to those whose driving behavior can be corrected No further amendment of ticket: the deal is you avoid the fines by getting licensed and insured Insurance benefit Dismissal of case upon completion of CRP

14 Preserves Right to Challenge Those ineligible or not interested may have a contested hearing, pay the ticket or mitigate. The Information may be useful to these individuals the next time around. Eligibility factors made clear

15 Other Side of Diversion: The Stick Those who fail to follow through with the Relicensing Program begin paying on their committed infractions after 180 day deadline. Those who continue to stack up DWLS 3 rd degree charges may be ineligible for the diversion program and may have criminal charges filed.

16 Marketing for Relicensing Program Through informal network of relicensed drivers Through weekly contact with the public at the Relicensing Diversion Dockets Through Friendship Diversion CRP Personnel Presentation to Day Reporting Class Through Court Personnel, Judges and Attorneys

17 Spokane City Prosecutor s Office Community Relicensing Program 909 W. Mallon Spokane, Washington (509)