Shasta County DA's Office advances data dashboard project for improved case management insights

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors held a special meeting on March 24, 2025, focusing on the collaboration between the District Attorney's office and the Public Defender's office, particularly regarding case management and data sharing.

The meeting commenced with discussions on the proactive measures taken by the new Public Defender, Miss Jones, who has been actively reviewing older cases in collaboration with attorneys from the District Attorney's office. This initiative aims to improve the resolution of cases that have lingered unresolved for extended periods.

A significant point of discussion was the need for comprehensive data to evaluate the effectiveness of the collaboration between the two offices. One supervisor expressed frustration over the lack of accessible data comparing case resolutions across different counties, emphasizing that without this information, it is challenging to assess success or failure in their operations. The supervisor highlighted the importance of having year-over-year data on cases worked on together by the Public Defender and the District Attorney's office.

In response, the District Attorney's office acknowledged the challenges faced in migrating to new electronic case management systems over the past four years. They reported progress in developing a new data dashboard that would provide real-time information about case resolutions. This dashboard is expected to launch by January 2026, pending the completion of necessary IT work.

The conversation also touched on the limitations of the previous case management system, which hindered the ability to track and analyze case data effectively. The new system, implemented in November 2021, is designed to rectify these issues, allowing for better tracking of case outcomes and types of dismissals.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from both offices to enhance their collaboration and data sharing, with the aim of improving community safety and operational transparency. The Board expressed optimism about the upcoming dashboard project, which is anticipated to provide valuable insights into the performance of both the District Attorney's and Public Defender's offices.