Substitute
Public Hearing: YES ? NO ? Department: District Attorney
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): all
PRETRIAL JUSTICE DIVISION-1st Appearance Hearings At Jail--District Attorney, Public Defender and Magistrate Court/Pretrial Release
Body
Information Contact: Sherry Boston or Roz Harris
Phone Number: 404-371-4773
PURPOSE:
To consider the creation of four positions and related operating expenses in the District Attorney's Office; and
To consider the creation of eight positions and related expenses in the Public Defender's Office; and
To consider the creation of two positions and related expenses in the Magistrate Court/Pretrial Release Office; and
To approve the addition to the fleet of one law enforcement vehicle in the District Attorney's Office and one law enforcement vehicle in the Public Defender's Offices; and to
To authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute any necessary documents.
NEED/IMPACT:
The District Attorney's Office, Public Defender's Office, and Magistrate Court/Pretrial Release Office are collaborating to create a PreTrial Justice Division. The two primary functions of the project, as required under State law, are to protect due process for defendants and to provide early victim notification related to all arrestees brought to the DeKalb County Jail. When a person is arrested for a felony crime and taken into custody at the DeKalb County Jail their first time in front of a Judge is at First Appearance. Under the law, the arrested person has a right to an attorney and due process at this first stage of the proceedings. Currently, the only people present at the First Appearance are the arresting police officer, the Judge and the arrestee. Given the current climate of bail reform and to ensure that the rights of all arrestees are recognized, there must be a change to the current system. This request is in line with ensuring justice by having the District Attorney and...
Click here for full text