FY 2019 PROPOSED BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

County Board Work Session

Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office

Tuesday, April 10, 2018 @ 2:30 p.m.

General Fund

“The citizen’s safety lies in the prosecutor who tempers zeal with human kindness, who seeks truth and not victims, who serves the law and not factional purposes, and who approaches his task with humility.”

Justice Robert H. Jackson

Department Overview

• The Commonwealth’s Attorney prosecutes

crimes occurring in Arlington County and the

City of Falls Church

• FY18 Key Achievement: Combating

Opioid Crisis (3 tiered approach)

• Awareness & Prevention – Town Hall

meetings (Oct. 12, 2017 and May 2,

2018)

• Treatment & Diversion – Drug Court

participation

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Opioid Overdose Fatalities –Arlington County

• CY 2016 – 25*

• CY 2017 – 21**

• CY 2018 (as of 4/4) – 4**

Total Fatalities – 50

*VA Department of Health

** VA Medical Examiner’s Office

Department Overview

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• FYI8 Key Achievement: Combating Opioid Crisis

(continued)

• Enforcement – use of multi-jurisdictional

grand jury to investigate fatal overdoses

• FY18 Key Achievement: Sexual Assault &

Domestic Violence Response

• Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Lead

• Project PEACE team member

• “Bar Bystander” Campaign

• “Purple Out” Campaign

• FY18 Key Achievement: Major Prosecutions

• Commonwealth v Ludvin Estrada

• Commonwealth v Daejon Jones

• Commonwealth v Nosher Ali Ahmad

Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office

Summary of Proposed Budget Changes

FY 2018

Adopted

FY 2019

Proposed Change

%

Change

Expenses $4,196,604 $4,286,518 +$89,914 +2.0%

Revenue $1,767,239 $1,763,536 -$3,703 -

Staff 35.0 FTEs 35.0 FTEs - -

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Key Budget Considerations

• Critical need for upgrade in department’s IT infrastructure – current network

router/hub is at full capacity and projected replacement cost is $50,000

• Increase in overall technology costs due to the expanding use of digital

evidence by law enforcement agencies (e.g. higher equipment, software,

and data storage expenses)

• Implementation of body worn cameras will require additional staff and IT

support

• ACPD staff reorganization will reduce investigative support and increase

burden on Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office staff

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