Increase in Felony Criminal Cases Strains Some Idaho Courts

LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) — Prosecutors and public defenders in north-central Idaho are struggling to maintain up with lots of of felony felony circumstances, and the backlog is straining budgets.

Nez Perce County has 330 felonies in its court docket system and is anticipating that quantity to succeed in almost 500 by the tip of September, The Lewiston Tribune reported.

Felony public defender Rick Cuddihy stated there are a number of causes for the rise in felony circumstances. Courts postponed jury trials for a time through the coronavirus pandemic. Poor psychological well being can contribute to crime, as can a troublesome economic system, he stated.

“All that collectively, the constellation of things, have created this,” Cuddihy stated.

The pressure doubtless will not carry any time quickly, as a result of felonies usually take between six and 12 months to resolve via the court docket course of, stated Nez Perce County Prosecutor Justin Coleman.

“Earlier than a homicide trial, two prosecutors are assigned to just about nothing however trial prep for a minimum of two weeks prior,” Coleman stated. “When you will have 450 different felony circumstances to juggle among the many remainder of the workplace (you) can get overworked shortly.”

State tips additionally restrict what number of felony circumstances every public defender can deal with at one time, in an effort to make sure that defendants are given sufficient illustration in court docket. When Nez Perce County’s felony public defenders attain the highest of their case limits, the general public defenders that usually deal with misdemeanors are assigned to the circumstances.

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