De Pere lawmaker wants additional prosecutors hired around the state
By WFRV
BROWN COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) - A move is underway to try and get some much needed help for district attorneys all across the state. Local 5 spoke with a lawmaker pushing a proposal, that prosecutors say is sorely needed.
For 14 years Joe DeCecco served as the District Attorney of Sheboygan County and during that time he says his office was always understaffed - when it came to assistant prosecutors.
“For my entire career as a DA, I was always concerned about the shortage of prosecutors in the state,” DeCecco said.
So too former Marinette County DA Allen Brey - who resigned from office earlier this month leaving behind a backlog of over 400 cases.
Telling Local 5 "there are not enough people in the Marinette County DA’s office to get the job done."
“This is something we've known for a long time in the state of Wisconsin,” said Rep. Andre Jacque (R-De Pere). “We're seriously understaffed in terms of prosecutors in our county DA offices.”
So now Jacque and and Senator Van Wanggaard have introduced a bill to try and change that, calling for the creation of 20 new assistant district attorney positions in 24 Wisconsin counties.
“We have fewer prosecutors now then we had back in 2003,” Jacque said.
Under the bill Outagamie and Brown counties would each receive two new prosecutors. Jacque says in Brown County a lack of attorneys has created an overwhelming burden for the office.
“Right now, there is a backlog of 3,000 cases - they would like to prosecute,” said Jacque.
DeCecco says the shortage was created over many administrations as a way to save the state money.
“Which wasn't fair to the victims of these crimes,” DeCecco said.
“It’s a bipartisan failure I would say,” Jacque added.
And now Jacque is seeking bipartisan support to help prosecutors across the state deal with growing case backlogs.