BEND, OR — The Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office conducted an annual performance management review to identify strengths and weaknesses.
Chief Deputy DA Mary Anderson says that 53 of 84 individuals and groups that work with the DA’s office were asked to rate the DA Office’s performance based on a variety of qualities: “Professionalism, expertise, collaboration, and timely services.”
Anderson says that while still earning high marks, the DA’s lowest score was given for Timely Services. Anderson says this is, in part, due to the unexpected rate of population growth in Central Oregon.
“With an increase in population, there is an increase in crime,” Anderson says. “There is some delay in trials getting before a judge and that’s not due to the lack of hard work by our judges, it’s just due to the lack of courtroom availability.”
Earlier this summer the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners began the discussion of expanding the county court building to accommodate a new judge, though the addition of either may take several more years.
In the meantime, Anderson says that the DA’s Office is working to address the survey results, and preparing for the transition of a new District Attorney in January.
