Story Published: Feb 22, 2012 at 12:57 AM PDT
Story Updated: Feb 22, 2012 at 12:32 PM PDT
Lewiston to prosecute own misdemeanor domestic violence cases.
According to county prosecutor Dan Spickler, Nez Perce has been prosecuting the city cases for about the last 12 years. He said under Idaho law, the city must prosecute their own misdemeanor domestic violence cases unless a contract has been entered into. That agreement was in place up until a couple years ago.
"Over the years, the cost has just shifted more and more to the county so at this point it's absorbed entirely by the county," says Nez Perce County prosecutor Dan Spickler.
During that agreement, the city provided funding via various grants. Spickler says Lewiston sees about 120 cases per year versus the county's 15 to 20. Lewiston city attorney Jamie Shropshire says the city has no problem prosecuting the cases, and says Lewiston doesn't have any plans to contract with Nez Perce County. Shropshire says the city has different personnel and is better equipped to handle these cases than it was 12 years ago.
