By Cody Neuenschwander

The Chronicle

For the first time since 2004, the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office filed more than 1,000 felony cases within a yearlong span — a number indicative of a steadily climbing workload that puts pressure on other realms within the local criminal justice system.

On Monday, Dec. 31, 2018, the prosecutor’s office filed its last case of the year, bringing the final tally to 1,046 cases. In 2004, 1,012 cases were filed.

Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer acknowledged there are likely a number of contributing factor to the steady incline. Among them, he said, are fuller-staffed local law enforcement agencies, allowing more officers on patrol to catch more suspects. Another is recidivism, with people convicted of crimes being released and committing more offenses — or at least being charged in the commission of crimes.

But perhaps the biggest contributor is also the most obvious: drugs.

Even if an offender isn’t busted on a drug possession charge, said Meyer, illicit narcotics are tied to any number of other offenses as the fuel fanning the flames. Often times, he added, it’s seen in property crimes like theft, burglary or vehicle prowl, but is also seen as a contributor to sex or violent crimes.

“They’re either trying to support their habit, or it’s such a disinhibitor, that all of the sudden it seems like that’s a good idea,” said Meyer.

Meyer said he couldn’t say why 2004 saw such a high number of felony cases, adding that he was a defense attorney during that time.

The final count of 2018 felony cases didn’t come as a surprise, with Meyer noting that halfway through the year, it had already been noted the county that was on pace to cross the dubious mile marker.

In September there had been a 40 percent increase in felony cases since September 2015, 37 percent since that same time in 2016 and 18 percent since 2017.

The prosecutor’s office has picked up three new deputy prosecutors in past months. One was hired to replace someone moved to another position in the office, another to replace one that left and the final was an approved hire from the board of commissioners.

And while one deputy prosecutor can handle as many as 80 felony drug possession cases at a time, said Meyer, not all felonies are created equal. A homicide or complicated financial crime, like embezzlement, can consume all of a deputy’s duties for weeks at a time.

While maintaining a full staff is in some ways a reactive response, Meyer said the office also works to be proactive, by taking part in crime-prevention programs in schools and the community.

“My goal every year is the same, and that’s basically to work myself out of a job. … We’re never going to achieve it, but if we keep … trying to figure out ways to reduce crimes in our community — and sometimes the answer is putting people away. Sometimes the answer is directing them to some type of treatment whether it’s drug court, (Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative), (Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternatives) for sex offenders, mental health alternatives,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Lewis County Jail is singing a similar song.

Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Chief Chris Sweet said the average jail population has climbed to 228 inmates from 206 at the end of 2017. A few times in recent months, the jail has gone on restrictive booking, meaning people charged with certain low-level misdemeanors wouldn’t be booked. That happens any time the jail population hits 250, said Sweet, and remains in effect until the number can be whittled down.

Currently, the jail is operating with a full staff — 56 full-time employees. But that number comes with a caveat, said Sweet. In 2008, seven positions were cut at the jail, in response to a harsh economic climate. At that same time, the average daily population was 109 inmates. The staff size has remained the same ever since, said Sweet.

As a result, staffers were moved to more vital areas, and certain jail programs were cut or left in fewer hands.

The jail recently asked for two additional corrections deputies, but the request was denied by county officials, said Sweet. Funding for an additional nurse has been approved.

“We’re basically status quo. We are not into the reserve tank yet. We are basically going to continue operations as it is going right now, and we can successfully do this. This is just the indication, and basically a warning, … if we continue to increase, we’re going to have to look at our (full time employees) and the resources we have for our facility right now, because as the inmate population increases we will have to increase our infrastructure as well,” said Sweet.

Sweet said he’s been clear that he’ll request additional positions in the future. Currently, there aren’t enough corrections deputies to fulfill a certain national standard relating to jail tower staffing. In the future, he said, the standard may become a requirement. Before that time hits, jail staff strive to boost their numbers to meet any upcoming national requirements.

“That’s the … reason that we asked for the two deputies, not only for the increased population, but we’re at that time now that have to start asking for more (full time employees) to try to rebuild that seven that we lost,” he said.