San Joaquin County budget cuts: Some suspects may not be prosecuted

Jun. 23--Residents in unincorporated San Joaquin County should get the same level of sheriff's protection that they've been receiving, but prosecuting suspects once they're arrested could become a serious problem.

The county District Attorney's Office, which is responsible for prosecuting suspects

With the layoff of a dozen deputy district attorneys proposed by county administrators, the DA's office stand to stop prosecuting some cases involving auto burglaries, prostitution, vandalism, graffiti, trespassing, petty theft and minor drug possession, according to the county budget.

That means the misdemeanor cases that would continue to be prosecuted are domestic violence, driving under the influence, and firearms cases directly affecting public safety, according to the budget proposal.

Officials from the District Attorney's Office weren't available for comment Monday.

The Board of Supervisors will conduct budget hearings on Wednesday in Stockton for the sheriff's, district attorney, courts and related agencies.

The Sheriff's Department will not face the budget crunch that the district attorney's office will, but 43 vacant positions in the sheriff's department will not be filled.

County Sheriff Steve Moore began trimming his budget last year, resulting in 17 deputies who were not replaced, lower priority for cold cases, prioritizing criminal warrants, background and security checks, reduced monitoring of inmates and inmate labor, and fewer employees available to move inmates to another location.

That reduction in service will continue unless the Sheriff's Department receives state or federal grants to retain all or some of the lost positions. Sheriff Steve Moore has applied for $22.9 million of federal stimulus funds, and state grant applications totaling $435,000.

There will be no layoffs in the sheriff's department, Moore said.

Sixty layoffs have been tentatively penciled into the county budget because of a $20.6 million salary increase and benefit adjustment that the county previously negotiated with county employees, according to County Administrator Manuel Lopez.

Had union representatives been willing to accept furloughs and give up the 3.5 percent raise, many of the layoffs could have been avoided, Lopez said.

However, union representatives have accused the county staff of not negotiating in good faith and making unreasonable demands on the union. Employees are willing to take furlough days if it will save jobs, union advocate Bill Petrone said two weeks ago.

Moore said he will ask the Board of Supervisors to reinstate two positions in the Sheriff's Department that are grant-funded -- a high-tech crimes officer and an agricultural crimes detective. Moore believes the positions are affordable because the county's share is only $147,000 for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

Moore said that he believes he will be able to continue the current level of service for the fiscal year beginning July 1, but he is more concerned about the 2010-11 fiscal year.

The Sheriff's Department has 81 deputies, more than in the past 10 years, Moore said.

In the Public Defender's Office, the budget cuts could affect its ability to accept new cases involving death penalty prosecutions, according to the proposed budget. New death penalty cases may have to be transferred to Lawyer Referral Service, the county's contracted provider for legal service in conflict-of-interest cases.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com

County budget hearings

The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors will conduct budget hearings beginning at 1:30 p.m. today and continue on Wednesday and Thursday.

Hearing for the "law and justice" budgets, which include the sheriff's, coroner's and district attorney's offices and the probation department, are scheduled for the morning agenda on Wednesday, but it could be extended to the 1:30 p.m. calendar.

The hearings will also cover the budgets for the County Administrator's Office, Human Resources, Registrar of Voters, Animal Control, Community Development, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, county library and other services.

Hearings will begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the county courthouse, 222 E. Weber Ave., seventh floor, Stockton.

At 1:30 p.m., the Board of Supervisors is scheduled to conduct budget hearings on Health Services and Human Services.

For more information, call 468-3113.

Source: San Joaquin County

Law and justice budget at a glance

Figures include salary increases and benefits cost to the county for 3.5 percent raise that was previously negotiated by their labor union.

Sheriff's Department (includes coroner, public administrator)

Salary/benefit increase: $6,303,620

Layoffs: None.

Vacant positions: 53

Positions that won't be replaced in 2009-10: 43

Savings: $1.5 million

District Attorney

Salary/benefit increase: $1,980,867

Positions eliminated: 29

Already vacant: 15

Layoffs: 12 deputy district attorneys and two office assistants.

Savings: $783,447

Probation

Raises/salary increase: $1,057,402

Positions eliminated: 21.8 full-time equivalent

Already vacant: 16

Savings: $311,676

Public defender

Raises/salary increases: $517,588

Positions eliminated: 8, plus extra help

Already vacant: 4

Savings: $799,264

Source: San Joaquin County

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