Here & Now

Prosecutor Shortages Lead To A "Public Safety Crisis"

Frederica Freyberg:

Now for Wisconsin look and news from the Dane County courthouse. That’s where Dane County D.A. Ismael Ozanne held a press conference this week about staffing levels in his office, calling his lack of prosecutors a public safety crisis. Ozanne says and reporting shows that in Dane County and around the state, staffing levels have been stagnant since 1985. As populations increase, D.A. offices become inundated with cases. A bill is currently working through the state Assembly that would grant counties more prosecutor positions. Ozanne says he has asked over the past three budget cycles for 11 to 12 assistant D.A. positions. Under the bill Dane County would receive none, while other counties would receive at most two extra positions.