Des Moines Municipal Court
State of the Court 

May 11th, 2017


Mission:
 Des

Moines Municipal Court is dedicated to the
fair, impartial, and timely administration of
justice, providing the community it serves with
a safe and accessible environment that is
respectful to all.

 The

business of the Court shall be conducted
with integrity, competence, and a commitment
to excellence, in order to promote public trust
and confidence in our system of justice.

 Vision: Justice in the City of Des Moines will be
accessible, fair, effective, responsive, and
accountable.


To be accessible: DMMC will be convenient, understandable, timely, and
affordable to everyone.



To be fair: DMMC will respect the dignity of every person, regardless of race,
class, gender or other characteristic, apply the law appropriately to the
circumstances of individual cases, and include judges and court staff who reflect the
community’s diversity.



To be effective: DMMC will uphold the law and apply rules and procedures
consistently and in a timely manner, resolve cases with finality, and provide
enforceable decisions.



To be responsive: DMMC will anticipate and respond to the needs of all
members of society, and use evidence-based practices to tailor individual sentences.



To be accountable: DMMC will use public resources efficiently and in a way
that the public can understand.

 Current Staffing Levels


Court Administrator



Admin Staff


1 Lead Clerk



4 Clerks (4th F/T Clerk added in 2016)



1 Clerk (Limited Term Position)



Probation Officer (.70 FTE)



Court Security Staff


Court Security Officer (.70 FTE)



2 Court Marshalls (.50 FTE)

 Current Court-Related Issues /
Programs


Workload Increase: 300% increase in filings due to
implementation of traffic safety cameras



Probation: Anger Management MRT offered on-site at cost; DOC
Work Crew as alternative to confinement; continuing to expand
Court Resource Center



Court Security Upgrades: Enactment of GR 36 (Court Rule
passed by State Supreme Court mandating court security
standards)



Funding for DV Advocate (City Attorney’s Office): Present for
NCO Lift and Related Hearings



FUTURE: Request to Increase Probation to FTE in 2018 due to
New hires at PD, Explore Feasiblity of DUI Court, Youth Traffic Court

 Technology Improvements 2016
-2017




O-Court Case Management System (CodeSmart,
Inc.)


On-line Adjudication for Civil Infractions (DMMC is
Pilot Court)



Jury Management (sends out notices, tracks
payments, tracks excused/rescheduling)



Addition of Translated Forms

N-Court / Paymentus


Automated Receipting for Online Payments (In
Process)

 Criminal Charges Filed (2013Present)
1400
1200
1000

2013

1190

2014
991

2015
2016

800
644

2017

695

600
400
237
200
0

 Criminal Court Hearings (2013-Present)

4500
4000

4017

2013

3813

2014

3500

2015
2844

3000

2016
2017

2500
2090
2000
1500
1000
500
0

1062

 Civil Infractions Filed (2013-Present)
18000

16989

2013

16000

2014

14000

2015
12000

2016

10000

2017

8591

8000
6000
4000
2000
0

7591
6566
4746

 Hearings on Civil Infractions (2013-Present)

6000

2013

5099

5000

4000

2014
2015

3892

2016
2017

3000

2000

1000

0

2040

2281
1913

 Probation Services
Current as of
4/28/17

Probation
Caseload

Total Number of
Probationers

358

DV-Related
Convictions

125

DUI-Related
Convictions

156

Other Crimes

60

**Court will be requesting to
Increase Probation to FTE in
2018 due to new hires at PD.

 Ms. Patrick became a
Certified Facilitator of
“Coping with Anger
MRT”
 Serves as
Misdemeanant
Corrections Association
PR Chair
 Serves as District &
Municipal Court Judges’
Association Liaison