Some cities, like Albuquerque, have smaller populations and crime rates, but more than twice as many prosecutors. For every 10,000 major crimes reported to police in 1998, Mecklenburg had just eight prosecutors - fewer than every other urban county in North Carolina. Year after year, Gilchrist has pleaded with state officials for more prosecutors. Courtrooms, judges and other personnel are also scarce. Consequently, only about 2percent of felony cases that police bring to Mecklenburg prosecutors go to trial.
Prosecutors choose their battles.
Everywhere else in the state, police simply arrest suspects when they have probable cause. But in Mecklenburg, police generally must get a prosecutor's approval before making a felony arrest - unless they see a crime in progress, or conclude the suspect may hurt others or flee. Gilchrist says he requires this early review because he doesn't want to waste the county's limited resources and jail beds on suspects whom prosecutors won't likely be able to convict. Even when police make an arrest, there's a good chance the charges will be dismissed. In the past three fiscal years, state data shows, Mecklenburg prosecutors dismissed 46percent of all felony charges - more than any other urban county in North Carolina.