Salt Lake District Attorney pleads for money for attorneys

Salt Lake County District Attorney Lohra Miller publicly pleaded for more money to hire attorneys on Monday.

The plea came a day before the Salt Lake County Council is scheduled to make a decision on funding levels for both the district attorney's and sheriff's budgets.

Miller said she needs 40 new full-time employees to keep the streets safe, but Mayor Peter Corroon only recommended the council hire eight — including no new prosecutors.

The district attorney said that's not enough. At the very least, she said she needs the nine new prosecutors she asked for.

"We're asking for the money to keep our communities safe and do our jobs well," Miller said. "Any attorneys would be helpful."

It would cost roughly $2.5 million to hire the new attorneys and support staff as part of an office restructuring plan, according to Miller's proposed budget.

Corroon said he understands Miller's plight, but he's got to balance the budget and avoid a tax increase.

"We understand she needs and wants to make sure public safety is a priority, but we've got to take a holistic approach," Corroon said. "The sheriff has asked for a lot of money, human services has asked for a lot of money. We try to be balanced to meet all of the needs."

Miller did get some help during mid-year budget adjustments in June. The council doubled Miller's domestic-violence staff in June, by approving five new full-time positions.

Overwhelming caseloads are driving down morale, and criminals "are not being held accountable" for their crimes, Miller said. Felony prosecutors at the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office are assigned about 215 cases per year, while the national average is about 90 felony cases per prosecutor.

That caseload is alarming to the 20 or so police chiefs across the valley, who stood with Miller on Monday to beg the county to "make law enforcement a priority."

"Police agencies see the overwhelming demand on prosecutors," Sandy Police Chief Steve Chapman said. "Better support provided by new prosecutors will help those of us fighting crime on the streets."

Miller said she is not in favor of a tax increase to fix the woes in her office. She said the county just needs to re-evaluate its priorities.

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com