File name: JACBudgetHearings2014_20140115_085149.dcr Folder: C:\Documents and Settings\happropriations\My Documents\JAC Audio 2014 0 ~ 1/15/2014 10:29:45 AM ~ Start Recording 18 ~ 1/15/2014 10:30:03 AM ~ 157 - DA7 - District Attorney - Casper Michael Blonigen, Natrona County District Attorney Increase in population, but not significant growth in crime; aging population. Drugs major portion of workload, prescription drugs growing problem. Violent crime steady. Some pressure on staff, salary issues. 1 position cut, maintained elimination of position. Case loads manageable, but busy. 7:38 ~ 1/15/2014 10:37:23 AM ~ Stubson: Costs when help another county? 7:56 ~ 1/15/2014 10:37:40 AM ~ Blonigen: Paid by requesting county 8:35 ~ 1/15/2014 10:38:20 AM ~ Perkins: Junker case? 9:04 ~ 1/15/2014 10:38:48 AM ~ Blonigen: Minor offense, such as a traffic ticket 9:32 ~ 1/15/2014 10:39:17 AM ~ Perkins: Domestic violence cases? 9:56 ~ 1/15/2014 10:39:41 AM ~ Blonigen: Much of misdemnor docket. Steady during past 10 years. 10:35 ~ 1/15/2014 10:40:20 AM ~ Perkins: DUI 10:39 ~ 1/15/2014 10:40:23 AM ~ Blonigen: Down somewhat this year, but up several last years. Average blood alchohol is not dropping. Number of repeat offenders is increasing, also increase in vehichlar homicide. 12:16 ~ 1/15/2014 10:42:00 AM ~ Perkins: Child abuse? 12:28 ~ 1/15/2014 10:42:12 AM ~ Blonigen: No. Remains somewhat steady, but slight decrease. Less felony child abuse. 13:01 ~ 1/15/2014 10:42:46 AM ~ Perkins: Rapes 13:22 ~ 1/15/2014 10:43:06 AM ~ Blonigen: Function of whether reported or not and if sufficient evidence for prosecution. Not much change over 30 years, adult. Increased prosecution in child abuse cases, more programs to deal with and increased prosecution. 15:24 ~ 1/15/2014 10:45:09 AM ~ Bebout: Domestic violence, drug and alcohol related. 15:43 ~ 1/15/2014 10:45:28 AM ~ Blonigen: Much of crime is substance abuse related. 16:13 ~ 1/15/2014 10:45:58 AM ~ Blonigen: 1 personnel cut in 2013, maintained. Salaries large driver. Still run community programs, more rehabilitative than punitive. 18:25 ~ 1/15/2014 10:48:10 AM ~ Perkins: drug courts and success? 18:47 ~ 1/15/2014 10:48:31 AM ~ Blonigen: very positive, especially over 3 years. 19:12 ~ 1/15/2014 10:48:57 AM ~ Stubson: grant funded positions. 2 positions? 19:38 ~ 1/15/2014 10:49:22 AM ~ Blonigen: Yes. single grant sources. 20:27 ~ 1/15/2014 10:50:12 AM ~ Meier: task force officers? 21:37 ~ 1/15/2014 10:51:22 AM ~ Blonigen: task force perform majority 22:07 ~ 1/15/2014 10:51:52 AM ~ Meier: overtime pay for task force personnel necessary or more personnel? 22:41 ~ 1/15/2014 10:52:26 AM ~ Blonigen: Extra officers. 23:16 ~ 1/15/2014 10:53:01 AM ~ Perkins: task force officers how valuable? 23:45 ~ 1/15/2014 10:53:30 AM ~ Blonigen: Very important, current plan most efficient. Draws from local agencies and DCI. Almost all drug cases, without task force, not in-depth investigations, well trained in drug arena. 25:49 ~ 1/15/2014 10:55:34 AM ~ Perkins: 22 personnel, 19 authorized. 26:08 ~ 1/15/2014 10:55:52 AM ~ Blonigen: diversions officers paid by other sources (2), and 1 eliminated. 27:37 ~ 1/15/2014 10:57:22 AM ~ Blonigen: Computer hardware exception request; $12,300. . 29:15 ~ 1/15/2014 10:59:00 AM ~ Nicholas: Don't have to replace computers, suggested by ETS? 29:36 ~ 1/15/2014 10:59:21 AM ~ Blonigen: Issues with software compatability. 30:08 ~ 1/15/2014 10:59:53 AM ~ Nicolas: West law for all attorneys? 30:21 ~ 1/15/2014 11:00:06 AM ~ Blonigen: Maintain budget, but not increase in budget. In and out of state travel exception requests. 10% increase for in-state costs, primarily gas costs. Out-of-state budget increase. Bar dues have increased, $500. 32:38 ~ 1/15/2014 11:02:23 AM ~ Hastert: What kind of cases go to district attorney? 33:24 ~ 1/15/2014 11:03:09 AM ~ Blonigen: city ordinances or state law; policy considerations. 34:43 ~ 1/15/2014 11:04:27 AM ~ Harshman: 10 years trend for DUI? 35:56 ~ 1/15/2014 11:05:41 AM ~ Blonigent: Different tools for number of repeat offenders; treatment programs; high blood alcohol levels 38:26 ~ 1/15/2014 11:08:11 AM ~ Harshman: penalities too severe? 38:54 ~ 1/15/2014 11:08:38 AM ~ Blonigen: some are driven by federal funding, CDL license and penalities for DUI 40:30 ~ 1/15/2014 11:10:15 AM ~ Perkins: Non-alcohol DUI and prosecuting 40:58 ~ 1/15/2014 11:10:43 AM ~ Blonigen: Better identifcation by officers, what does high look like? Tough if simply medications, medically perscribed or not. Numbers continue to grow. 44:22 ~ 1/15/2014 11:14:07 AM ~ Dockstader: Education falls on who? 44:58 ~ 1/15/2014 11:14:43 AM ~ Blonigen: Public awareness and being accepted in society. Takes time. 46:07 ~ 1/15/2014 11:15:52 AM ~ Hastert: Domestic violence and related law enforcement and education. Who trains? Felonies? How many go to court? 47:36 ~ 1/15/2014 11:17:21 AM ~ Blonigen: Not related to training, but reported as assault/assault and battery. Felonies, significant, 20% domestic violence. More likely to be contested, internal and external pressures, therefore, more court time. 50:47 ~ 1/15/2014 11:20:31 AM ~ Wallis: 5 nanogram issue as related to cannabis. No scientific evidence related to impairment and nanogram blood levels. 52:58 ~ 1/15/2014 11:22:42 AM ~ Blonigen: Colorado researched extensively. Officers can be trained to be drug experts. 55:00 ~ 1/15/2014 11:24:45 AM ~ Blonigen: Have done research for 5 nanograms levels, but no laws for prosecution. Are impairments, but different than for alcohol. 57:10 ~ 1/15/2014 11:26:54 AM ~ Esquibel: meth lab trends 57:23 ~ 1/15/2014 11:27:08 AM ~ Blonigen: no labs in 3 or 4 labs. Most coming from California, Arizona and Mexico 58:10 ~ 1/15/2014 11:27:55 AM ~ Blonigen: Prosecution dependent on size of operation, 59:18 ~ 1/15/2014 11:29:03 AM ~ Esquibel: DUI issue, bars have portable breathalizer? 59:36 ~ 1/15/2014 11:29:21 AM ~ Blonigen: Machinery takes maintenance of equipment with regard to calibration. 1:00:43 ~ 1/15/2014 11:30:27 AM ~ 1:01:01 ~ 1/15/2014 11:30:45 AM ~ Pause 1:01:01 ~ 1/15/2014 11:37:58 AM ~ Resume 1:01:03 ~ 1/15/2014 11:38:00 AM ~ 008 - PD - Office of the Public Defender Diane Lozano. State Public Defender Ryan Roden, Deputy State Public Defender Dan Wilde, Deputy Director, GAL Program Becky Meza, Fiscal Officer Case loads have increased 5% over 5 years, types of cases are becoming more complex. 70% are misdemenors. Must have manageable case loads, have a mix of types, 83% have maximum case loads, except Laramie County, which exceeds 100%. Attorneys must be current in training and have a variety of resources, ie expert witnesses. 1 active capital case, in Laramie, County, which is very expensive. Appeal process automatic in capital case. Excluded from representing on indian reservation. 1:11:33 ~ 1/15/2014 11:48:30 AM ~ Harshman: Pleas? 1:11:45 ~ 1/15/2014 11:48:42 AM ~ Lozano: 95% or greater are pleas. 1:12:20 ~ 1/15/2014 11:49:17 AM ~ Nicholas: Capital case? 1:14:41 ~ 1/15/2014 11:51:38 AM ~ Lozano: February date, Nicholas Cotstallano. Struggling to maintain 900 series reduction, higher caseloads and needed expert witnesses and contract attorney. 1:16:20 ~ 1/15/2014 11:53:17 AM ~ Lozano: Public defender allowed to request reimbursement funds for experts if private attorney first used, then had to use public defender. 1:18:46 ~ 1/15/2014 11:55:43 AM ~ Perkins: Trends in child abuse, domestic violence, dui, and sexual assault 1:19:28 ~ 1/15/2014 11:56:25 AM ~ Lozano: Not tracked, more felony DUI by repeat offenders, more child sexual assault cases, which require more experts; 1:21:18 ~ 1/15/2014 11:58:15 AM ~ Perkins: Unfair, or unequal, balance? 1:21:36 ~ 1/15/2014 11:58:33 AM ~ Lozano: Prosecutors have access to more resources. 1:22:11 ~ 1/15/2014 11:59:08 AM ~ Perkins: Advocacy of public defenders compare to private attorneys 1:22:47 ~ 1/15/2014 11:59:44 AM ~ Lozano: Best attorneys in state, but busier means less effective. 1:24:30 ~ 1/15/2014 12:01:27 PM ~ Bebout: Eligibility 1:24:39 ~ 1/15/2014 12:01:36 PM ~ Lozano: Court determines, any questions, appoint public defender 1:25:07 ~ 1/15/2014 12:02:04 PM ~ Stubson: No federal grants? 1:25:21 ~ 1/15/2014 12:02:18 PM ~ Lozano: No. 85% general fund, 15% county. 1:25:42 ~ 1/15/2014 12:02:39 PM ~ Nicholas: bond conditions/DUI 1:26:27 ~ 1/15/2014 12:03:24 PM ~ Lozano: looking at potential problems 1:27:19 ~ 1/15/2014 12:04:16 PM ~ Lozano: page 8, standard budget, mostly salaries. Reduced budget funds, $901,000, not carried forward. Need more capital case funds. Reduced contract attorney numbers. 1:32:09 ~ 1/15/2014 12:09:06 PM ~ Bebout: Case load and legislated minimum sentences 1:32:25 ~ 1/15/2014 12:09:22 PM ~ Lozano: page 9, personal services, legal assistants, low in numbers. support services, ETS guidance. Rental properties utilized for some offices statewide. page 11, special revenues from clients, which returns to general fund. page 12, exception request 1:36:52 ~ 1/15/2014 12:13:49 PM ~ Nicholas: mitigation costs for capital case? 1:37:04 ~ 1/15/2014 12:14:01 PM ~ Lozano: Must investigate whole life history in capital cases. $370,000 needed for upcoming capital case. . 1:39:49 ~ 1/15/2014 12:16:46 PM ~ Jones: Denied as service accessed contractually. 1:40:41 ~ 1/15/2014 12:17:38 PM ~ Lozano: capital case funding, $870,000, with $250,000 access immediately. Reduces money available for regular cases for expert witnesses. 1:44:01 ~ 1/15/2014 12:20:57 PM ~ Burkhart: Balance? 1:44:08 ~ 1/15/2014 12:21:05 PM ~ Meza: Account, -$63,000. 1:44:41 ~ 1/15/2014 12:21:38 PM ~ Jones: $370,000 effective immediately. 1:45:00 ~ 1/15/2014 12:21:57 PM ~ Lozano: 2 attorneys, public defender office on capital case. 7 capital cases during last 2 years, which is above average. page 14, $98,000 to conduct public defender training, exception request. 1:49:10 ~ 1/15/2014 12:26:07 PM ~ Nicholas: page 14, priorities. why pay less, not full 85%? 1:49:42 ~ 1/15/2014 12:26:39 PM ~ Agaar: Correction, $109,000 needed for county match, ETS transfer. Error in accounting table, will be corrected. 1:52:15 ~ 1/15/2014 12:29:12 PM ~ Lozano: page 15, exception request for updated computers, software, telephones. 1:53:13 ~ 1/15/2014 12:30:10 PM ~ Nicholas: Breakdown of budget request 1:53:29 ~ 1/15/2014 12:30:26 PM ~ Meza: Updated software, adobe pro, office professional upgrade, 8 laptops, out-of-warranty parts for computers, cell phones. 1:55:16 ~ 1/15/2014 12:32:13 PM ~ Meier: Other agencies doing all hardware, software. ETS justification? 1:55:57 ~ 1/15/2014 12:32:53 PM ~ Meza: No computer issues, new ones this biennium. ETS denied request for new monitors 1:56:31 ~ 1/15/2014 12:33:28 PM ~ Lozano: page 17, exception request for !5,000 for office furniture replacement of desks and chairs; denied by governor. page 16, funding to pay for court ordered experts for private attorneys, $100,000. vehicle maintenance costs. 2:00:02 ~ 1/15/2014 12:36:58 PM ~ Lozano: page 22, guardian ad liem program. Sweetwater County now provided services, which was refused in 2008. page 23, help over 2,000 children annually; mostly contract attorneys. page 24, Exception request to provide West Law, largest costs are expert witnesses. 2:04:06 ~ 1/15/2014 12:41:03 PM ~ Stubson: Bill counties up to 25% of costs, 2:04:33 ~ 1/15/2014 12:41:30 PM ~ Lozano: Yes, all counties pay a match. 2:05:23 ~ 1/15/2014 12:42:20 PM ~ Meza: 25% of what is spent, not of total 2:05:58 ~ 1/15/2014 12:42:55 PM ~ Lozano: page 25, employee position exception request denied by governor, money for full time contractor in Sweetwater County. page 26, IT requests, page 27, West Law access, 2:10:09 ~ 1/15/2014 12:47:06 PM ~ Meier: private contract attorney, can practice, if part time, 2:10:46 ~ 1/15/2014 12:47:43 PM ~ Wilde: West Law access for full-time contractors 2:11:00 ~ 1/15/2014 12:47:57 PM ~ Lozano: Furniture and supplies exception request, $5,000 approved by governor. GAL attorneys statewide, Campbell County attorney could use legal assistant for administrative duties and research. 2:13:31 ~ 1/15/2014 12:50:28 PM ~ Bebout: Why different in priorities for Sweetwater and Campbell Counties? 2:13:52 ~ 1/15/2014 12:50:49 PM ~ Lozano: Sweetwater County's needs are immediate. Harder to hire part-time assistant. 2:14:29 ~ 1/15/2014 12:51:26 PM ~ 2:15:05 ~ 1/15/2014 12:52:02 PM ~ Stop Recording