Expanding Prosecution and Victim Services Capacity in Response to Gun Violence

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office proposes to implement the Expanding Prosecution and Victim Services Capacity in Response to Gun Violence project. The purpose is to increase capacity for gun violence prosecution and advocacy/service referrals for those victims in Multnomah County, Oregon. Project activities include the hiring of two positions under this proposal: 0.8 FTE Deputy District Attorney and 1.0 FTE Victim Advocate, both of whom would specialize in gun-related crime. Those positions would be assigned to prosecute gun-related cases and advocate for crime victims, reducing ballooning caseloads, which are well above generally accepted levels, and increasing the District Attorney’s Office’s overall effectiveness. Expected outcomes include: quicker case resolution timeframes, increased capacity to conduct investigations, a decrease in caseload size, and a dedicated victim advocate to spend more time with victims of gun-related crime. Gun violence crime victims and the community as a whole are the intended beneficiaries of the project.