Mobile Earmarks Funds For State Prosecuters

The City of Mobile has increased its allocation to the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office to support the timely prosecution of violent crimes in the city. The Mobile City Council voted to fund District Attorney Keith Blackwood’s office with $1.1 million to support the staff and resources local prosecutors need to protect the public and hold criminals accountable, Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis said. The agreement is in response to a request for support from Blackwood’s office. The funds are to help avoid a potential reduction in local prosecutors that could prolong criminal trials, delay justice for crime victims and create unsustainable caseloads for the remaining state prosecutors. While the District Attorney’s Office prosecutes violations of state law and is an agency of the state, the City has partnered with the Mobile County Commission since 2022 to provide $1 million in supplemental funding for its operations. That support has been critical to maintaining an adequate number of local prosecutors and was instrumental in reducing a significant backlog of criminal cases resulting from the pandemic. Due to the success of this agreement and its role in reducing crime by ensuring effective and efficient prosecutions, the City of Mobile has budgeted to continue supporting the District Attorney’s Office beyond the initial three-year agreement. The Mobile County Commission has not.