HomeMy WebLinkAbout20988 - RESOLUTIONS - 7/7/2004 RESOLUTION NO. 20988 '
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM
SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR
APPROPRIATE FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE APPOINTMENT OF
ADDITIONAL JUDICIAL OFFICERS FOR RIVERSIDE AND SAN
BERNARDINO COUNTIES
WHEREAS, the County of Riverside is the fifth largest and the fastest growing County in the
State of California with a population of 1,758,300; and San Bernardino County is the fourth
largest with a population of 1,869,300, as estimated by the Department of Finance, State of
California, as of February 11, 2004; and
WHEREAS, this staggering increase in population has created a severe crisis in the court
systems of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties; and
WHEREAS, the total cases per judicial officer in the County of Riverside was 4,621 and 4,655 in
San Bernardino County, which are more than 200% higher than the Statewide average (2,104),
according to the Judicial Council of California; and
WHEREAS, the cases that require the greatest amount of time are felony matters, and the
County of Riverside had 15,412 felony filings, ranking fourth in the State of California, and the
County of San Bernardino had 16,596 ranking second for Counties over 500,000, according to '
the Judicial Council of California, 2003 Court Statistics Report; and
WHEREAS, according to the State Judicial Council, in a report dated October 26, 2001,
Riverside County needs an additional 41 judicial positions to handle the County's incredible
caseload; and
WHEREAS, Riverside County's need is the third greatest in the State of California; and
WHEREAS, according to that same Judicial Council report, San Bernardino County needs an
additional 53 judicial positions, and its need is the single greatest in the State of California; and
WHEREAS, the lack of judicial officers in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties has an
extremely negative impact on victims, witnesses, and the entire justice system in two of
California's largest counties; and
WHEREAS, failure to act to relieve this pressure may cause the dismissal of criminal cases due
to a lack of available judicial officers.
Resolution 20988
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs,
California, that the Counties of Riverside and San Bernardino join together in their request to
have the Governor of the State of California appropriate the funding necessary to appoint
additional judicial officers to ease the severe crisis in the Riverside and San Bernardino court
systems.
ADOPTED THIS 71h day of July, 2004.
AYES: Members Foat, McCulloch, Mills, Pougnet and Mayor Oden
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
City Clerk City Manager
REVIEWED &APPROVED AS TO FORM
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