The Board of Public Works approved $1.1M without discussion for the addition of 8 new positions in the Office of the Attorney General, 4 of which are for the IID.

Last Wednesday, the Board of Public Works (BPW) approved a request from the Attorney General’s Office for 8 new positions, 4 of which are intended for the Independent Investigations Division (IID). These additions follow changes from the last legislative session that allowed the IID to not just investigate but also to prosecute any police-involved cases that result in death or serious injury likely to result in the death of an individual.

The 4 positions for the IID makes up more than half of the total request of $1.1M at around $607,000. The remaining 4 positions, of the 8 total, will be in the Criminal Investigation Division. Regular positions to be created within the IID include two Assistant Attorney General positions for $345,386, an Administrator VI at $151,599, and an Administrator II at $110,469.

Justifications were made in the BPW agenda under the requesting agencies remarks, in this case that is the Office of the Attorney General. New responsibilities were outlined including litigation, material preparation for court, motions practice, the writing or indictments and supporting memoranda, preparing discovery, and preparing attorneys and witnesses for trial. Prosecutorial powers for the IID will begin on October 1st, 2023 for any qualifying incidents that occured after the effective date of the authority.