HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2014 (03)
Resolution No. 3 (2014)
RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE OF WISCONSIN TO
SUPPORT AND FUND ADDITIONAL ASSISTANT DISTRICT
ATTORNEY DRUG PROSECUTOR POSITIONS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE
1 WHEREAS, illegal drug use has increased dramatically in the State of Wisconsin over
2 the past three years; and
3
4 WHEREAS, in St. Croix County alone there have been 12 heroin related deaths - many
5 of which were young adults between the ages of 20-24; and
6
7 WHEREAS, similar tragic deaths are occurring just as rapidly in the neighboring State of
8 Minnesota as well as other western Wisconsin counties; and
9
10 WHEREAS, just as the methamphetamine epidemic in the early 2000's, heroin and other
11 illegal drugs know no boundaries and have a sweeping effect across the State making this a
12 statewide concern; and
13
14 WHEREAS, at the end of 2011, the St. Croix County District Attorney's office lost
15 funding for a Drug Prosecutor position that had been funded with penalty assessment surcharge
16 funds from the Wisconsin Department of Justice; and
17
18 WHEREAS, between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2011 through the efforts of the
19 Drug Prosecutor and the St. Croix Valley Drug Task Force, St. Croix County experienced a 52%
20 decrease in the number of drug cases filed; and
21
22 WHEREAS, between January 1, 2012 to present, due to an increase in illegal drug use,
23 specifically heroin, St. Croix County has experienced a 31% increase in the number of drug
24 cases filed, and the average number of days for prosecutorial action has doubled from a low of
25 6.58 days in 2009 to 14.58 days in 2012; and
26
27 WHEREAS, continual and successful prosecution of illegal drug dealers across the State
28 is a crucial element in ending the senseless deaths and addictions of this State's youth; and
29
30 WHEREAS, a caseload analysis done by the Wisconsin Department of Administration in
31 2012 concluded there is a shortage of 214 Assistant District Attorneys statewide; and
32
33 WHEREAS, the caseload analysis indicated that St. Croix County is in need of
34 approximately three additional Assistant District Attorneys; and
35
36 WHEREAS, it is the State of Wisconsin's responsibility to fund Assistant District
37 Attorney positions throughout the state.
38
39 THEREFORE, be it resolved that the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors strongly
40 urges the State of Wisconsin to support and fund additional Assistant District Attorney drug
41 prosecutor positions throughout the State to aggressively prosecute individuals trafficking and
42 selling illegal drugs.
43
44 FURTHER be it resolved that the St. Croix County Clerk forward copies of this
45 resolution to Senator Sheila Harsdorf, State Assembly Representatives Erik Severson, John
46 Murtha, Dean Knudson and Governor Scott Walker.
Sponsored By: Administration Committee on December 16, 2013
Le-gal- Fiscal- Administrative Approvals:
Legal Note: none
Fiscal Impact: None.
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P tar 12/5/2013
St. Croix County Board of Supervisors Action:
Roll Call - Vote Requirement - Majority of Supervisors Present
RESULT: ADOPTED [15 TO 1]
MOVER: David Peterson, Supervisor
SECONDER: Ron Kiesler, Supervisor
AYES: Travis Schachtner, Agnes Ring, Tim Hood, Daryl Standafer, Fred Yoerg, Buck Malick, Richard Ottino, Dave
Ostness, Roger Larson, Ron Kiesler, Andy Brinkman, David Peterson, Joe Hurtgen, Duane Russett, William Peavey
NAYS: Chris Kilber
ABSENT: Tom Hawksford, Fred Horne, Brian Hurtgen
This Resolution was Adopted by the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors on January 7, 2014
Cindy Campbell, County Clerk