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
2Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office
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
5Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office