NCJ Number
226879
Date Published
2007
Length
75 pages
Annotation
This report complies with the statutory requirement for the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission to report on funds administered under Arizona Senate Bill 1013, known as Fill the Gap (FTG) legislation, which provides local courts, county attorneys, and indigent defense services with State funds to be used for improving criminal case processing.
Abstract
Included in this fiscal year 2007 FTG Annual Report is an explanation of the FTG program, including its statutory authority, the appropriation formulas, and designated responsible parties. The report also presents expenditures by organization, local plans for future expenditure of FTG funds, and suggestions on how to improve the FTG program. The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission’s Statistical Analysis Center distributed an annual reporting form to all county attorneys and indigent defense offices that received FTG funds in fiscal year 2007. The reporting forms include questions about how FTG funds were spent and how they improved criminal case processing, case processing statistics, and comments on relevant issues that were encountered during the year. Those receiving funds were also asked to complete and return a plan for the expenditure of fiscal year 2008 FTG funds. This report presents information from the FTG form by county and funded agency. Each county report begins with a brief population summary, followed by a financial breakdown of FTG allotments, a section for the county attorney’s information, a section for indigent defense services, and case-processing statistics. From the county reports, it is evident that even with additional resources provided by FTG funds, most jurisdictions’ criminal case processing times have not yet met the timelines established by the Arizona Supreme Court. Increased case processing requirements stem from changes regarding the handling of illegal immigrants, required expedition of drunk-driving and other cases, and victim notification in misdemeanor cases. Extensive tables