Archives > News Update
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Crimes Against Children Division reduces case backlog
By Dan Eakin, deakin@localnews.com
The Collin County District Attorney's Office's Crimes Against Children (CAC) Division has made much progress in recent months, and dispositions may soon outpace incoming cases.
Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis on Monday told the Collin County Commissioners Court that CAC staff have significantly reduced backlogs of cases.
"In 17 months, we've carved away 25 percent of the backlog," he said. He praised his staff members for their work, which he said "has been nothing short of remarkable."
Willis told the commissioners he had come before them to thank them for their support "and to brag a little bit on my people."
He said that the DA's office had fallen behind in disposing of cases in 2009 and 2010, but that it has been busy "catching up and getting ahead" in 2011 and 2012. Willis showed the commissioners a two-minute video that traced CAC's progress during the past few years.
The year 2009 began with 87 pending cases, and 150 new cases were added, but the DA's office disposed of 88 cases. The next year began with 149 pending cases, with 131 new cases added, and that year, the DA's office disposed of only 109 cases.
Willis became district attorney in January 2011, and the new administration implemented staffing and policy changes that turned the tide.
Last year, CAC added 132 new cases and disposed of 161. As of June 1 of this year, CAC had 79 new cases, but had disposed of 92 cases.
That left 129 cases that could be disposed of by the end of the year. "At this rate, dispositions may outpace incoming cases in the coming year," Willis told the commissioners.
Following the video, Willis again praised the commissioners for creating and supporting the CAC. Before CAC was created, crimes-against-children cases were just mixed in with other cases.
"Having live judges ready to hear the cases has a huge effect and allows our people to dispose of these cases in a way that protects the community, and also keeps our jail list down," he said.
CAC prosecutors include Crystal Levonius (CAC chief), Shannon Miller, Janet Cook and Claire Miranda. Kenny Newton and Marletta Scribner are CAC investigators, and Sandy Schilling and Kathy Schroeder serve as felony secretaries.
"Protecting kids is the core of what we do here," Willis said. "Our CAC team has delivered tough sentences while not only handling a record increase in cases, but also reducing the case backlog by 25 percent. This hard work translates to safer kids and safer communities."
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: News Update «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
