County prosecutors, elected sheriffs and police chiefs told the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee that legislators should consult local law‑enforcement stakeholders early in the drafting process because proposed statutory language can have unanticipated operational impacts.

Steven Endress, appearing for Merrimack County, summarized county attorneys’ role prosecuting felonies for counties and, where contracted, misdemeanor prosecution for smaller towns. He said county attorney offices also handle complex case elements such as competency proceedings and involuntary civil‐commitment follow‑ups that arise within criminal cases.

Sheriff Bill Wright, president of the New Hampshire Sheriffs Association, asked legislators to include sheriffs in pre‑draft conversations and said sheriffs meet monthly to coordinate responses to legislation and operational issues. Wright pointed the committee to RSA 104 as the statutory core for sheriff duties and urged members to contact association leadership before advancing proposals that may affect sheriff responsibilities.

Chief Tim Crowley, president of the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police, described the association’s roughly 165 active members across departments and urged continued investment in recruitment, training and best practices to maintain New Hampshire’s high policing standards. Crowley and other chiefs said departments of all sizes face similar challenges but at differing volumes.

On body‑worn cameras, Crowley said adoption is increasing but smaller agencies are hindered by cost — not only for cameras but for video storage and redaction. “Buying the camera is the least of the cost. It’s the storage and the redaction,” he said, noting some jurisdictions must expand prosecutor staffing to handle the added workload of video review and redaction.

Speakers asked the committee to consider grant or assistance programs to help smaller departments with start‑up and ongoing body‑cam costs, and to consult law‑enforcement leaders early on bills touching operations or funding. Presenters agreed to share contact information and to meet with members drafting legislation.

No legislative actions or votes were taken at the session.