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twitterANSWERS: CLARK COUNTY:
Prosecutors say they’ll dig in to fight for 3% raises
New lawyers in office, other county workers to get 1 percent
Sunday, May 31, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Clark County firefighters are no longer alone in refusing to reduce scheduled pay raises to help Clark County taxpayers fill a $123 million budget gap.
The Clark County Prosecutors Association is threatening to take the county to court if its members don’t get 3 percent raises in July. At its Tuesday meeting, the County Commission is slated to consider lowering that cost-of-living increase to 1 percent, the same raise given to beginning deputy district attorneys and the same raise agreed to this year by the county’s 9,500 service employees.
Are the county’s prosecutors underpaid?
Clark County employs 154 prosecutors. According to figures compiled by Nevada’s Employment, Training and Rehabilitation Department, the average salary of 125 of those prosecutors with more than two years’ experience, the ones who are in line for the 3 percent cost-of-living raise, is $127,864. The state also came up with an average salary for private attorneys in Clark County in 2008, the most recent year available. That figure was $118,461. Of the county’s prosecutors with less than two years’ experience, 19 percent are scheduled to get 1 percent raises.
What about the flip side? Are the county’s public defenders also trying to keep their raises?
The average salary of Clark County’s 83 public defenders with more than two years’ experience is $116,866, about $11,000 less than prosecutors with more than two years’ experience, according to county administrators. This year, those public defenders are to receive no merit increases, bonuses or cost-of-living raises, according to the county. Twenty-two public defenders with less than two years’ experience are to receive 1 percent raises, however.
Officials also said the top of the salary range for a Clark County prosecutor is $153,608, and 38 of the district attorney’s prosecutors are topped out. Nevertheless, the average salary for the topped-out group is $171,511, because of longevity pay increases.
According to figures collected by county administrators, the top of the salary range in Washoe County is about $126,000, and the comparable top salaries in California’s San Bernardino and Riverside counties are $138,000 and $141,000.
How much would Clark County save by reducing its prosecutors’ cost-of-living raises?
About $311,000. County administrators say the principle is as important as saving every penny in these tough times.
So who is in the right in this matter?
In her letter to the county manager, the president of the Clark County Prosecutors Association, Pamela Weckerly, wrote that her group struck a collective bargaining agreement with Clark County in 2008. Collective bargaining agreements are considered ironclad contracts, which is why the county can’t force the firefighters union to concede any salary or benefits. The county’s 9,500 service employees, who had a collective bargaining agreement with the county, voluntarily reduced their scheduled pay raises from 3 percent to 1 percent this year.
Is Weckerly right? Did the prosecutors union and the county bargain in good faith and contract for the 3 percent raise?
Not according to county administrators, who say the county and the union jointly agreed to suspend the collective bargaining process last year to reach an agreement. Under that suspension agreement, the union’s members received benefits of about $1 million — not including the salary increase they still want to receive, County Manager Virginia Valentine said.
“The salaries and benefits they have received over the last year have been more than generous, and given the sacrifices of other hard-working county employees, we don’t feel that the proposed reduction in a cost-of-living adjustment, from 3 percent to 1 percent, is unreasonable,” Valentine said Friday.
Now what happens?
In her letter, Weckerly warned that if the county wants to avoid being dragged into court over the raise, commissioners must not consider the agenda item at Tuesday’s meeting “or introduce it at any future date.”
So, we’ll see whether the commissioners will push forward with it Tuesday.
Discussion: 29 comments so far…
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The County should go ahead and give the DA's their 3 percent cost of living increase, but then take away their longevity pay, DA Association dues, and every other perk that they receive. It's crazy for the District Attorneys to be demanding pay increases at a time when every other employee is taking a cut. The County needs to remember these actions when the budget improves and it needs to recognize that other County employees, such as the Public Defenders, accepted the limitations on pay and didn't threaten court actions against the County. The County should take a serious look at the entire budget of the DA's office,
6 figures in this town is living like a king. 1% a year is what it should be for three years. Then go back to the table.
They should give raises. Then they should start laying off prosecutors, just like businesses are doing in the private sector. Start with the most corrupt of the corrupt. Then the head prosecutor should go to the sheriff and tell him to have his officers stop putting every petty criminal in jail, and stop exaggerating petty crimes into more serious offenses. Then we can start scaling back our overly corrupt judicial system to a smaller and much more reasonable size. Then we can cut all unnecessary government services....trim the fat.
As tens of thousands of taxpayers lose their jobs and others tax pay cuts the public employees are fighting over how big a raise they are to receive.
I agree with a previous poster. Give what they bargained for. Cut every dime they are not contracted for. Charge them for parking. Make them accountable for every hour they are paid.
When this contract is up. Cut their pay by 10% and let those that want to leave, hurry up.
Nevada law gives enormous power to city and county workers to get their hands on just about every pot 'o money their employer has, as long as it's not targeted for a specific project/need. Collective Bargaining and Binding Arbitration makes a kind of municipal royalty out of our "public servants." That's not to say they're not worth the bucks...but it does give them a kind of power that seems out of place in a state that considers paying any taxes a Cardinal Sin. In some instances, like Carson City where raises this coming fiscal year will range from 4-13.5%,(while the local jobless rate is over 12%) reduces resources for parks, recreation, library and other "quality of life services." What's wrong with this picture? A brick under employees' gas pedal seems in order. You notice the state legislature does not give similar powers to state workers who are facing pay CUTS.
As I began reading I thought the comments by pbud33 were a joke or at least sarcasm that would lead to a real point. But wow, they were serious. Aside from the point of the story being about budgets, I guess you don't realize that if we stop "putting every petty criminal in jail" they will be free to commit either ever more petty crimes or to graduate on to the big stuff like murder. Studies show that targeting minor crimes like speeding and shoplifting reinforces good behavior in the community. It becomes like peer pressure. If everyone does 90 on the freeway than it doesn't matter and it must be okay. Or if all your "homies" are shoplifting than that's okay too. But if everyone you know got busted for stealing than you might think twice about doing that. I urge you to consider the consequences of your statements.
As for the prosecutors' attitudes on keeping their raises, they might be in the "right" legally but morally they could learn a thing or two. It just seems to lack compassion to demand raises when others are giving back their raises and thankful to just have a job, or are unemployed and would gladly take only a 1% raise if they were still employed. But then again I guess being heartless is a good quality for a prosecutor.
LV2gen,
Please advise where you get those studies about petty crimes. I'd like to review that.
For all of your information, the most violent criminals, murderers are the least likely to re-offend.
These prosecutors are acting like spoiled children. Too bad if you don't get your raise, I didn't get mine either and at least I understand why.
I say just fire them all, and start out new with a new contract. Deal done. NEXT
This nation,state,county and city is hurting because what is happening to the economy. There are unions that have returned to the table long after contracts were agreed to. Now there are a group of people that supposed to defend the people from some very bad people. Now it appears, people who send people to the "Big Houses of Nevada" can't read what's going on with the economy. I would just recommend that they return to the table and make an adjustment in their contract. All it would say in simple terms that when the economy get back on it's feet "things" will go back to what it was before.
Here's a question. Why are the prosecutors paid more then the public defenders? There is something wrong with this picture. Why is that? If I were on the Las Vegas City Council or the Clark County Commission I would raise the question. A lawyer is a lawyer. All should be the same. It's that simple.
Isn't it interesting that the very people who are our saviors in crime--think only of themselves and screw the taxpayer, in a very serious recession.!
These hardened parasites, AKA prosecutors, have only contempt for the general public. And, why not, they've led this state into the biggest debacle in our history: PRISON--everyone goes. No exceptions. Innocence has nothing to do with their job. Just their conviction rate.
Nevadan's have No One to blame but themselves. They have been duped by the Good Ole Boys for so many years, they can't see the forest for the trees.
Maybe, now, when our taxes drive the taxpayer from our homes to feed these parasites--they will wake up. Folks, things aren't going to get better in the next few weeks. This recession is going to go on for years--just to get back to even. However, you can bet the District Attorney's Office won't feel the effects of deprivation, hunger and/or loss of income. And, none will be homeless! You might be, but not them...
Do you really want more tax money going to the police department for more policemen? Do you really want more prosecutors? Do you need them? All the policemen, prosecutor, legislators, and all the printed material tells you this is a basic need. Yes, it might be--FOR THEM!
Did you know the second largest industry in Nevada is PRISONS. Who fills the prisons? You don't have to think real hard on this one, and I'm not going to tell you. You folks have to do something on your own.
So, why are prisons a failed experiment? Why are they always needing more taxpayer money? An industry makes money, or at least, I'm told that's why they are in business, It keeps the police and DA's office in business. Still think you're not being duped. Misleading the public is a disgrace, but you read everyday how these parasites are keeping keep you safe. Really? 18 to 20% of all inmates are innocent. (Federal statistics).
Keep feeding the parasites. It is only your money! That's my opinion & I'm sticking to it.
Spartacusproject,
Can you be more direct?
WilliamClark: Not without name calling! But some credit has to go to Geezelouise and some of the other enlightened writers that submitted comments to this article. They were right on, too. The greed the prosecutors brought out to the public, with their refusal to be part of the citizenry, but demand to be the elite--is troubling. They deserve nothing. Everyone in their dis-functional eyes are criminals. Given the chance--they will try to prove it. Takes a sick mind to be so professionally jaundiced towards their fellow man. And, I believe any person that is in a courtroom, day after day, with no other reason to be there, but to convict another person, guilty or innocent, but to just convict--is a sick person. Somehow, I don't think I'm wrong!
with the state of our economy, State and Federal, being what it is, it would be a good time to "trim the fat" all around - why not start with the racist, elitist, fascist brigade which passes as the prosecutors' office (as a whole - there's always a few good apples in a very rotten barrel)-
having observed "court proceedings" in this town on more than one occasion, it is appalling how arrogant, ill-tempered, bloodless, and categorically STUPID these folks are - and you would swear that their feces don't smell!!!
most of them deserve swarthy pay cuts, but they sure as shootin' don't deserve a penny more than they already squeeze from the impoverished inhabitants of this hell-hole of a County.
Thank you Spartacus.
Is this for real? I am shocked. I mean really shocked. But why should I be shocked that these horrific parasitic Nevada prosecutors think they actually should get a raise when all state workers are taking cuts, people are losing their homes, all services are being cut? Do they really think this? I guess they do. They should be rewarded for putting innocent people and non-violent offenders in prison so we can support them. This makes sense! Perfect Sense! Go get a job and quit sucking at the public trough you PARASITES!
I see I am not the only one who feels this way. Thanks, Joan,Carsonnewshound, pbud33, neiman1,Sparatacus, WilliamClarke, FreeMan, and ConnieK.
These people need a dose of reality. We are all suffering through this crisis and they have no right to think they are better than we are.
Dear Geezelouise & Las Vegas Sun Editor.
Thanks! I would challenge the Las Vegas Sun to do a story about the DA's office of the more interesting crimes they have tried to convict people and lost.
I know there are many but the when I arrived here in mid 80's there was a case in the later 80's involving a murder of at the Whiskey Pete's Hotel & Casino in Primm Nevada. As I recall there was a suspect that was literally found guilty of the crime by the local media and the DA at the time was going for the gusto until something happened. There was evidence. It was in the visual. Pattern baldness as I recall. It was DNA or in this case visual DNA along with some strange business with a METRO detective at the time and the jury. They found the guy not guilty. The case is still open after all theses years and METRO still has not got the person or persons in that case.
There is a need for a DA's office but they must have oversight on what happens there. Then there will be true justice for all parties.
Here's an idea! Let's just cut out the DA's Office alltogether. These people have some nerve, thinking that their pay should be comensurate with the level of education they have achieved, and I happen to know for a fact that they all became attorneys by waving a magic wand, as opposed to the silly urban myth that their six figure salaries are actually the result of having bothered to pay attention in school, suffered through the LSATs, endured three more hilariously fun years of law school, and, of course, the Nevada Bar exam, which , as we all know, is super easy.
In that regard, prosecuting cases is waay easy, too, and requires no effort or advanced skill whatsoever! So, I think we should just pay minimum wage and allow the local chambermaids at the Bellagio to pick up the slack; anyone who has ever witnessed an individual try to represent themselves in court can easily attest to the fact that there is NEVER any stumblebumb confusion displayed by them on the most basic of evidentiary issues and, of course, having an inmate represent himself never slows the process to a grinding halt while he unknowingly hangs himself. So, we got that going for us!
Finally, I completely agree with the notion that the DA's Office only prosecutes innocent people and never cuts deals. That must be why I never read posts from people about the "dirty prosecutors and judges colluding" to give someone a deal which they find too leniant. Also, it's not as is there is a manifest necessity to see that most cases are dealt, as I'm sure the NDOC would have no problem whatsoever being able to handle every single defendant being carted off to prison!
So, in sum, down with the DA's Office, down with salaries of someone who holds an advanced degree that isn't in line with the guy at the taco stand! Together, we can show 'em all!
OK, I see we need to go further... Narcissa thinks there may not be any collusion between prosecutors, police & judges. I hope, I'm not misjudging you, but do you live in a cave? Collusion between judges and the police that are associated with the district attorney prosecutors--is great. My God, there isn't a decent judge in the state. Most are ex-DA's or prosecutors. Where is the justice there.
Prosecutors don't need evidence, or a confession, or a snitch, they just over charge the defendant to the point any "deal" is better than going to prison for something they didn't do. Try denying that one!
Why would a defendant "deal" his way out of all the charges? Try hiring one of Nevada's attorneys. They take your money and dump you quicker that any broken dump truck. There isn't a good attorney in the state. If, there is one, he is for hire only to the rich. And, a well kept secret.
Of course, you could take your chances with the public defender's office. Nah, just plead guilty and go on about your prison life. Public defender's office is not the biggest joke in the judiciary, but it does give many judges a good belly laugh. They might try to defend your legal rights, but in the meanwhile they destroy all your chances for acquittal and/or appeal.
Judge Donald Mosley, Jackie Glass, Michelle Leavitt, Valarie Vega--all fine judges, if you are a cop, or Mormon, or from a rich old Nevada family. To the above-listed you are nothing more than an easy paycheck, and slave labor for the Prison Industrial Complex, that hires incompetent morons and relatives of judges to guard these citizens.
Not everyone is innocent, but enough are to have a federal review on Nevada justice. Investigate this Las Vegas Sun and Review Journal. Quit hiding Nevada's Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay, and our own Russian Gulags.
Tell me I'm wrong!
Uhh, no, I don't "live in a cave", but you sure might because the poor lighting in there might explain your failure to correctly read what I wrote. My statement addressed the accusation that basically everyone who gets prosecuted by the DA's Office winds up in prison and no one gets a deal.
In responding, I pointed out the number of people who, from time to time, will post about some defendant getting off too lightly pursuant to the deal that their "lousy" defense attorney, being the big dummy and/or "lazy sellout king" that he is, managed to cut on behalf of the client. The rants in connection with those deals generally involve some sort of reference by the respective poster to the existence of "collusion" or the "big fix" or whatever you want to call it.
The issue as to whether or not such scandalous behavior actually exists has absolutely nothing to do with the point of my remark. Read in it's PROPER context, th statement is meant to illustrate that contrary to what other posters state, deals ARE cut by the DAs Office. All the time. And, to come full circle, the point is that if deals were not cut, people wouldn't be complaining about them since you can't complain about that which doesn't exist.
To underscore, I also pointed out the ridiculousness of the notion that deals are never cut by referencing the inevitable collapse of the prison system if such a statement were really true. II think we can all agree that the NDOC would collapse under the weight of every single convicted defendant doing prison time.
If you want to believe collusion exists, that's your business, but please don't attribute my post as a commentary on that subject. I was merely saying the accusation exists as a way of showing that deals are made by the DA's Office.
Thank you.
I am not surprised by the behavior of the DAs. There may be a few good guys (or gals) left, but many DAs lost the ability to serve true justice and act morally somewhere along the way.
The DA does not care guilt or innocence. They only care if they can prove their case. DAs have no problem sending innocent people to jail - as long as they have the evidence to sway a jury to do so. It is not a question of 'is this person really guilty'? Or, 'do I have the right person'? It is a question of 'do I have enough evidence to get a conviction'. Even if they feel the defendant may be innocent, if there is enough evidence to gain a conviction, the DA will pursue it every time - let the trier of fact (judge/jury) see through the all the BS evidence. If they can.
We all know the justice system has major flaws, and the overzealous DAs who care more about convictions and career advancement, than they do guilt or innocence of the defendants, are a huge part of the problem. For starters, Deputy DA should NOT be an elected position (nor should judges), as chasing votes and getting re-elected is the root of most of our judicial system problems.
Here's an on-topic solution: let them have their raises and their perqs. Then lay off the ones the budget can no longer afford. Let them chase ambulances in the real world to try and make ends meet. With fewer prosecutors the DA will then have to cut back prosecutions to deal with real criminals.
Great suggestion KillerB. The problem with that is that the rest of them are rewarded for being the greedy blood suckers they are showing they are.
The whole idea of professionals having a union is ludicrous to begin with. The elected officials who agreed to this should have been voted out of office long ago.
What part of "public servant" is so hard for a government employee to understand?
Narcissa: OK! I've read things wrong before. However, you speak of the NDOC collapsing under the weight of all convicted parties going to prison. Nope! Not true, but the taxpayer is going to collapse with that weight of his tax dollars going down the drain to support the Nevada prison system.
You think, some posters complain of too lenient sentences. Yes, some do. However, the DA deals when they have little to no evidence, and the do nothing attorneys fall right in line. A deal is no work for the attorneys, that haven't prepared to defend their client--in the first place. As for the DA, it is another victory, with no work to convict, but looks good to the paying taxpayer, and the DA's resume.
Show me a good Nevada defense attorney that is now a Nevada Judge! But, I can show you many prosecutors that are currently sitting judges.
Everyone in the judicial system know the decks are stacked against the citizen, but no Newspaper has the courage to write about it and tell the truth. The newly arrived to Nevada believe justice is being done, just like it was back home and before they came here. Folks, This isn't back home...
Let a family member or loved one get caught in this system and you'll have other thoughts. Judicial fairness in Nevada is just a word in the dictionary.
Collusion, deals, fairness, overcharging is not a new thing to the police, prosecutors and judges in Nevada, but in Nevada it goes to the ridiculous.
It would seem to me that the judicial just wants everyone fingerprinted and their mug shot. Give the police, and the rest of their ilk, a reason to spoil another persons reputation by stating: "Well, he has been arrested before," is not a myth. And, the newspapers can't wait to print this garbage to sell papers.
I'm out of space, and didn't answer all your thoughts, but don't think for a minute I couldn't. Corruption in this state comes in many varieties. Judiciary is one of them.
Have a nice day...
The position of the prosecutors is unbelievably stupid. I've read the so-called "contract" between the prosecutors and the county and it is not an enforceable collective bargaining agreement. In court, they will lose. What is amazing is that these people are so stupid as to believe they have a binding contract and their idiocy to insist upon receiving a raise when the county may well be justified in cutting salaries. Our Clark County prosecutors are stupid and arrogant, and this is what happens when you a judicial system so corrupt that the judges let the prosecutors do anything they want.
So a prosecutor makes $11,000 more than a public defender? There is certainly nothing wrong with that system, is there?
I always thought that the indigent were afforded the right to adequate representation, too. Not that $116,000 is shabby, don't get me wrong. I would love to make half of that. But if the system is geared toward producing more rewards for prosecuting crimes than defending people from prosecution (kind of an important protection against an over-zealous state, yes?), where will the best attorneys go?
I guess it's a new take on the old joke about doctors: what do you call the person who graduated last in his class at law school? Public defender.
"what do you call the person who graduated last in his class at law school?"
RustyS -- you almost got it right. The correct answer is "Your Honor."
RustyS. & killerB: Talk about two guys getting it right. Bless you boys. You hit it right on the head, with KillerB really hitting a home run. Spartacus
Prosecutors make more than public defenders?
That's foul play.
The prosecutors need to tone down and donate the overpayment to starving Nevada prisoners, who have only one set of clothing and unconstitutional medical care.
Shame on them! Shame on them in these hard times!
Greed is one of the seven deadly mistakes and this is certainly a deadly one for them in the eyes of taxpayers.