Median time to file misdemeanor charges down from 129 days to 3, says Seattle city attorney

Since taking office in January, Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison has committed to re-centering victims in the public safety system. Davison says data in her second quarter report to the Seattle City Council show she’s making good on that promise.

The 50-page report, requested by a council ordinance, shows that the city attorney’s office (CAO) has cut the median time it takes to make a filing decision in criminal cases to 3 days.

The CAO says that’s a 98% reduction to the median decision time from the previous five years when – under Davison’s predecessor – it was taking an average of 129 days for the office to make a filing decision between 2017-2021.

Davison says reviewing case reports immediately has not only led to quicker case filings but also more victims participating in their cases. For instance, in 2021, 27% of domestic violence case referrals had to be declined because of challenges getting in touch with victims who too often would have a change of heart about participating. Now, in the second quarter of 2022, that has dropped to 8%.

The overall efficiency of the system has also led to a significant increase in the number of cases being filed overall by the CAO’s criminal division, according to the report, which shows a 124% increase in cases filed when compared to last year. The office also credits improved reporting from Seattle Police for that increase. While case fillings soared, declined cases for new criminal cases referred by police dropped.

The report also shows that the Seattle City Attorney’s Office has made steady progress in addressing the 5,000-case backlog that the office inherited. Assistant city prosecutors have made 900 case filing decisions on older cases in the second quarter since City Attorney Davison announced her plan to address the backlog.

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“I am so proud to highlight the incredible work of the dedicated Criminal Division staff in this report. Since taking office, I have been committed to re-centering victims in the public safety system in Seattle, and the data in this report proves that we are making significant progress in delivering on this promise,” said City Attorney Ann Davison.

“Seattle residents, business owners, and community members deserve a criminal justice system that works for them and prioritizes the safety of our communities. My office will continue to lead with data and transparency, to ensure that we are making meaningful improvements to public safety in Seattle.”

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