DA: Charlotte could use more prosecutors, judges to help violent crime rate

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte has struggled to stop the worrying rate of deadly violence this year. Sixty homicides so far and police have tried several ways to stop the trend. Now, the district attorney is suggesting the city's justice system could be adding to the problem.

The system is "built for small ball and it's not built for the type of city we have grown into," District Attorney Spencer Merriweather said Monday.

CMPD Chief Kerr Putney and Merriweather turned their attention toward the court system and the DA  said he could use more prosecutors.

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His office has 83 prosecutors and, in most cities comparable in size, the number would be 115.

They said another problem is there are not enough judges.

"For some reason, we still have the same number of judges dedicated to criminal court that we had 25 to 30 years ago," Merriweather said.

They are on the bench in Mecklenburg County three days a week and work out of county for two days.

"Which means the people of Mecklenburg County have two unused days they can't do a thing with to make their community more safe," Merriweather said.

Violent crime has increased by 15 percent this year, including 60 homicides, which exceeds the total for all of last year.

Suspects are younger than 25 in 65 percent of the murders.

"When people are having these arguments over $5 and lives being lost, that comes from how you are home trained," Merriweather said.

The budget for Mecklenburg County courts is set in Raleigh. Local leaders said they are hoping for more funding.

Cox Media Group