Kane Co. public defender wants more money

Reviving arraignment court in Kane County and keeping the "Second Chance" program running was vital last year in helping the local court system weed through about 3,800 felony cases.

Kane County State's Attorney John Barsanti said the county sent 3,039 of the 3,800 felony cases filed in 2009 all the way through the court system.

Those totals reflect a lot of accomplishments, Barsanti said, but it couldn't have happened without the reopening of arraignment court and the continuation of the "Second Chance" program.

Arraignment court streamlines low-level felony cases to get them through the legal system faster, allowing attorneys to focus on more serious felonies. Of the 3,800 felonies last year, about 1,400 were taken care of in arraignment court.

The "Second Chance" program, which gives nonviolent offenders a chance to take responsibility for their crimes through monetary repayment and/or community service, handled another 518 of those low-level felony cases.

Barsanti said the programs are part of how the county has been able to keep its jail population low and avoid the extra costs of housing inmates at other counties' jails.

Avoiding extra costs is not something Public Defender David Kliment sees as possible with his current staffing situation. Kliment on Friday asked the county board's Judicial & Public Safety Committee for a $66,000 increase in his budget, saying he needs the money to accommodate contractually obligated raises for union support staff and the unexpected expenses incurred by an employee being out on medical leave.

"Yes, I'm asking for money already," Kliment said. "I didn't give anybody raises other than the union people that I was required to. I know last year I was over budget, and I didn't have any answer for that. I'm trying to avoid that this year."

The committee approved the $66,000 increase, but the entire county board must vote before it is finalized.