Prosecutors triage cases to fight 'heavy burden' of backlogged cases

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That DWI case is one of 40,729 active misdemeanor cases that need final resolution in Harris County courts - up nearly 30% from before the pandemic when there were 31,503 cases in February 2020.

The case is also just one of several the eight prosecutors were able to address April 14 during a four-hour overtime shift that ended at 9 p.m.

Before the pandemic, Beedle said they would average between 100 and 150 new misdemeanor cases a day. Now, there's about 170 new cases daily. Whether it's judges who aren't calling enough juries or defense attorneys who won't accept what Beedle calls"good" deals, prosecutors are just one part of the system and can't reduce the backlog alone, no matter how many 12 or 13-hour shifts they work a week.

Harris County Assistant District Attorney Macey Anderson talking about a DWI case she's working - one of 2,378 she's assigned to - while Beedle explained why the case should be dismissed. Within the first hour of that 5 to 9 p.m. overtime shift, prosecutors dismissed about five cases. And although Beedle sees that as a win, it barely makes a dent on the backlog.Harris County prosecutor Rebekah Wrobleske, who has 5,112 cases in her court, said her clearance rate is 112%, meaning she's clearing more cases that are coming in.

 

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What’s the point having police arrest dwi drivers when they let them go for 100 bond. Does nothing to stop the problem

seems like the system is and has been broken for years.

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