Denise Lunsford, the Albemarle County District Attorney, informed the county Board Of Supervisors that her office would no longer be able to prosecute misdemeanor charges (such as DUI & raccoon hunting after 2AM) unless the $32,000 in state budget cuts is replaced. The D.A.’s office is only required by law to prosecute felony class crimes (murder/robbery), and without increased funding there simply isn’t enough staff to cover the entire case load.
County executives will be working to provide further funding.
This strikes us as interesting, as the criminal justice system has become a rather well monetized machine, whereby the guilty bear a significant portion of the operating costs for any given year. [Photo Credits]
Related posts:
- Budget Cuts Come To Police Agencies, Prepare For Lawlessness
- County Budget to Increase 8.5% over Last Year
- UVA and State Budget Slashes
Sweet. Jumpin’ in my car now with my fifth of Jack and my coon-shootin’ gun.
^ yee-haw!
Maybe they’ll stop prosecuting drug possession charges they shouldn’t be prosecuting in the first place.