HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/7/2004 - STAFF REPORTS (11) DATE: JULY 7, 2004
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: POLICE CHIEF GARY JEANDRON
RESOLUTION APPROVING THE REQUEST TO GOVERNOR TO FUND ADDITIONAL
JUDICIAL OFFICERS FOR RIVERSIDE AND SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the resolution approving the request
for the Governor to appropriate funding to acquire more judicial officers in Riverside
and San Bernardino Counties.
SUMMARY:
With the increase in population and recent court closures the court systems of
Riverside and San Bernardino Counties are severely overworked with court cases.
This resolution would approve the request to the Governor to appropriate funding to
acquire more judicial officers in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
BACKGROUND:
The staggering increase in population and recent court closures has created a
severe crisis in the court systems of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The
lack of sufficient judicial officers may cause the dismissal of criminal cases and has
a negative impact on victims, witnesses and the entire justice system. An additional
41 judicial positions are needed in Riverside County and 53 in San Bernardino to
handle rising caseloads. The Riverside and San Bernardino law enforcement
administrators associations have joined together to request all cities in the Riverside
/ San Bernardino areas to support the appointment of additional ,judges for these
two counties to ease the severe crisis in the court system.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no cost to the City for this item.
GARY /CJ>JDRON APPROVED:
Chief'of police '
David H. Ready, City Mana eK
Attachment: Resolution .�-
RESOLUTION NO. ,:C,'t '?' F ^
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 perjudicial 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.
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 day of 12004.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ATTEST: CITY OF PALM SPRINGS,
CALIFORNIA
By
CITY CLERK CITY MANAGER
REVIEWED & APPROVED AS TO FORM
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