SACRAMENTO, CA - There seems to be more questions than answers at the Sacramento County District Attorney's office as of late.
In June, District Attorney Jan Scully announced she would be laying off prosecutors and support staff because of cuts to Sacramento County's budget.
She also said certain crimes would go unpunished, like burglaries under $950.
"Some criminals will not be prosecuted for committing crimes, not because they are not guilty, but because prosecution of criminals in not a county priority," she said during a press conference on June 15.
But shortly after, an internal memo stated there would be no layoffs thanks to a new-found source of funding.
However, the D.A.'s office did not address where the funding came from and how it would affect the prosecution of crimes.
On Aug. 30, spokeswoman Shelly Orio gave their final answer.
"We will provide budget and budget impact updates before the final budget board hearing on Sept. 7, but not before that time," Orio said.
Since the D.A.'s office is funded by tax dollars, the office's budget is public record. However, when the issue was brought to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Phil Serna said he did not have a comment.
The other supervisors have not responded yet.
County residents feel discouraged by the D.A.'s lack of transparency.
Tim Patton, who owns a plumbing fabrication business in Del Paso Heights, had to add security cameras, barbed wire and customized locks. He said burglaries are almost a weekly occurrence and he'd like to know if the D.A. will be prosecuting them.
"How do you know what's going on?" Patton said. "The people out here on the streets, (we) don't know. You get frustrated. You feel like you're out here trying to fend for yourself."
Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said it's reasonable to assume the prosecution of all crimes would resume, but he didn't know for sure.
However, Jones said it's problematic that officer involved shootings will not be investigated by the D.A., even without layoffs. Assistant District Attorney Albert Locher confirmed that after a Twin Rivers officer involved shooting earlier in August.
"We've implemented an interim protocol to have a credible, outside body review our officer involved shootings and then we still intend to submit the entire package to [Scully's] office to be able to review," Jones said. "But it is not the same as having the district attorney review and monitor those investigations."
By Nick Monacelli, nick@news10.net
News10/KXTV