News
By Michael Hernandez, 5-14-24
Shasta Prosecutorial Process
REDDING, CA—The Shasta County Board of Supervisors (met on May 14) and heard a prosecutorial process presentation made by District Attorney Stephanie A. Bridgett and were told that the Shasta County in 2023 had 10,587 cases with 9,915 cases filed involving 3,972 victims which included 15 murder defendants with combined sentences of over 330 years to life; 17 child molester and physical abuse defendants with a combined sentence of over 500 years to life.
Shasta County ranks number two in state prison commitments through the efforts of a staff of 20 attorneys in the District Attorney’s Office handling five to 20 cases a day, five days a week.
A Victim Witness Assistance Center provides assistance to victims of crime regardless of a case being prosecuted. The center advocates guide crime victims through the legal system to ensure they know their rights and provide support through the criminal justice system.
“The role of the Prosecutor is to ‘Seek Truth, Do Justice,’” said District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett making the presentation to the Shasta County Board of Supervisors. “Prosecutors represent the People of the State of California, not individuals. This means we represent the community as a whole. Therefore, victims cannot ‘drop charges’ or ‘demand charges be brought.’ Rights of victims and accused are evaluated in every case.”
How It All Begins
Law enforcement investigates a crime and the case is referred to the District Attorney to make a charging decision. Two tracks a case may take before arriving at the District Attorney’s Office, both impact timing of filing: arrest made by Law Enforcement; no arrest made by Law Enforcement.
If there is an arrest: submit in custody/arraignment within 48 hours;
If it is a dated case, not submitted within 48 hours: there can be a citation by Law Enforcement, a Court Cap (jail is full), bail; or on-going investigation.
If there is no arrest: Law Enforcement ‘walks through’ request for filing and warrant then the suspect is arrested with case already filed.
In an undated case submitted once Law Enforcement finalizes investigation then the case is reviewed for a charging decision.
Cases are then assigned by unit for filing to ensure review by the Deputy District Attorney’s with proper training and expertise to evaluate each individual type of case:
- SOU (Homicides)
- FUV (Family Abuse)
- Drugs
- Fraud
- General Felony (i.e., car theft)
- Misdemeanor
Factors that impact the timing of the filing include: prosecutor staffing and caseloads, further investigation, testing and experts.
Use of Technology for Filing Cases
- 2019 Spillman for Law Enforcement (with District Attorney interface)
- Nov. 2021 eProsecutor for District Attorney’s Office
- April 2022 Tyler Odyssey for Court (without District Attorney interface)
- Nov. 2022 Spillman District Attorney Interface go live
- May 2023 Premier One for Law Enforcement (without District Attorney interface)
- TBA 2024 Premier One for Law Enforcement (with District Attorney interface)
Note: Prior to 2019, everything was done by paper. Since 2019, Shasta County has started using technology (computers) for cases. Law Enforcement agencies changed their computer system from Spillman (2019) to Premier One (2023). Each technology change has resulted in a massive transmission of cases through the portal at one time.
Cases in Shasta County go from nine Law Enforcement agencies to the District Attorney’s Office and then are funneled into the Shasta County Court System
How Can You Help?
- Listen and validate
- Believe your friend or loved one
- Manage your own emotions
- Avoid judgment or blame
- Check in on them
- Seek appropriate resources
Note: The Crime Victims Assistance Center can be reached at 530-225-5220.
How The Board Can Help?
- Support tough on crime legislation
- Fully fund District Attorney’s Office with competitive pay
- Hiring bonuses—retention bonuses
Note: Charter County has no impact.
Public resources for case information:
- Tyler-Odyssey-Shasta County Records
https://portal.shasta.courts.ca.gov/PortalPROD
- CDCR – Inmate Locator
https://apps.cdcr.ca.gov/ciris/
- CVAC – Crime Victims Assistance Center
https://www.shastacounty.gov/district-attoreny/page/crime-victims-assistance-center
- Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services
https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/victim-services
- Shasta County Jail In-Custody
https://www.shastacounty.gov/sheriff/page/incustody
Presentation From Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC)
Shasta County is one of the 40 counties comprising rural populations in California that is a member of the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) which was founded in 1972 to champion rural state policies.
The RCRC makes up 13 percent of California’s population, but over 60 percent of California’s landmass; over 80 percent of U.S. Forest Service land resides within the member counties; and nearly 75 percent of California’s water originates in the Northern third of the State.
Making the presentation to the Shasta County Board of Supervisors was Patrick Blacklock, the organization’s President and CEO. The RCRC vision is to serve as the “premier advocate and innovative service provider for rural counties in California.” To see the 2022-25 Strategic Plan: https://www.rcrcnet.org/sites/default/files/documents/Strategic%20Plan%20Booklet%201.2022.pdf
Key areas of interest for rural counties include:
- Wildfire prevention and forest resiliency
- Drought and water resiliency
- Broadband: 51.3 percent of rural households have no access to high-speed internet
- Housing and Health Services
- Rural County Voice
The Rural County Representatives of California has two Ad Hoc Committees: the Williamson Act Ad Hoc Committee (focused on ranches and farms) whose priority is the retention of farmland and its place in California’s counties economic landscape and the Road Infrastructure Ad Hoc Committee which impacts local and state roadway infrastructure.
The Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA) provides affordable housing solutions; affordable energy financing and infrastructure financing. Since 1993 some 2,274 individuals or families have purchased a home through GSFA with over 10 million in down payment assistance up to 5.5 percent. As of April 2024, 95 employees have purchased or are in the process of purchasing a home through the program. A National Homebuyers Fund (NHF) has assisted 97 individuals or families to purchase a home through NHF since 2002 with over $863,000 in down payment assistance. Individuals in fire areas (including those in Shasta County) have been able to access a $28 million grant to buy a home.
For more information on RCRC go to: www.crcnet.org
To read the eight-page Shasta County Board of Supervisors agenda go to:
file:///Users/michaelhernandez/Downloads/Meetings618Agenda_20240509235451972.pdf
To read the 223-page complete Shasta County Board of Supervisors agenda packet:
file:///Users/michaelhernandez/Downloads/Meetings618Packet_20240509235455265%20(1).pdf
The Shasta County Board of Supervisors began their meeting at 9 am and concluded at 1:40 pm after a 40-minute closed session.
Michael Hernandez, a Shasta County resident is co-founder of the Citizens Journal—Ventura County’s online news service. He is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor. Mr. Hernandez can be contacted at [email protected] and is editor of the weekly “Stories Speak Volumes.”
