from staff
This week marks the first six months in office for State Attorney Angela Corey. The following is a list of issues addressed by Corey during this period. Many of these priorities came directly from the Jacksonville Journey Report, which outlined prosecutorial functions in need of immediate improvement.
Through Chief Assistant State Attorney Dan McCarthy, Corey has noted the following achievements, improvements and milestones her first six months in office:
• Reduced the size of SAO workforce by nearly 20 percent. The roster in September 2008 was 363; as of June it was 314.
• Instituted cost saving measures across the board. Most notable was the cancellation of lease for additional space in Farah Building saving the City nearly $200,000.
• Transformed the appearance of the Courthouse Annex on every floor while adding security measures and improving flow of visitors.
• Transitioned 64 new personnel to the State Attorney’s Office team including addition of 10 more Assistant State Attorneys positions.
• Emphasized “File more cases, try more cases, and win more cases,” which required greater productivity from a smaller staff. This meant longer workdays and weekends for Assistant State Attorney’s, investigators, paralegals and victim advocates who have not had pay raises in four years.
• The State Attorney’s Office is now filing felony cases at a rate exceeding 60 percent, compare to 40 percent in previous administration.
• The Office is trying more felony cases than ever before. There were 170 felony jury trials in first year. The average over last seven years has been 120 per year.
• The felony jury trial conviction rate is now 90 percent as compared to the 72 percent overall felony conviction rate in last seven years. Convictions have been obtained in every first and second degree murder trial conducted.
• Instituted the Major Crimes Unit, which specializes in the prosecution of gun-related violence.
• Fully applied the “10-20-Life” provision for those who commit crimes with firearms. This is dramatic change over previous administration.
• Instituted a new DUI “cell” in County Court, which has responded with an improved conviction rate.
• Successfully committed all violent sexual predators pending possible release.
• Added new office for insurance fraud and improved representation in Baker Act Cases.
• Direct Filed more juvenile cases in felony court in the first six months of 2009 than all of 2008.
• Added a new Public Records Office tasked with assuring timely replies to requests from citizens.
• Instituted an effective Forfeiture of Assets practice.
• Initiated investigations of crimes which have not been perfected by other law enforcement partners.
• Instituted a vertical filing system for new cases as recommended in Jacksonville Journey Report.
• Worked closely with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on the Gun + Gang + Violent Crimes Task Forces. These specialty task forces have made a number of high profile arrests, which the state attorney’s office has successfully prosecuted.
• Circuit Court prosecutors have tried twice as many cases in first six months of 2009 as all of 2008.
• Improved training significantly and recruited a volunteer intern force, which made major contribution.
• Instituted a Domestic Battery Unit that focuses on cases with a proclivity toward violence.
• Attacked the inherited backlog of worthless check cases, and instituted more effective procedures.
• Improved camaraderie and the “fun” factor through office functions and employee recognition events.
• Broadened attorney recruiting effort to reach wider applicant pool and conducted biweekly interviews for those interested in joining the state attorney’s office.
• Improved information technology functions and instituted numerous process changes designed to make the office “paperless.” Prospective juror lists are now processed electronically, thus avoid significant reproduction time and cost.
• Instituted an effective management system for timekeeping and vehicle use.
• Repaired and improved relationships with community law enforcement partners.
• State Attorney is a regular attendee of Jacksonville Journey progress meetings with mayor, sheriff, chief judge and others public leaders drawn together to improve the response to crime in our community.
• Fully overhauled plans for relocation of state attorney’s office to the Old Federal Courthouse.
• Had no incidents of attorney or investigator misconduct.