Gordon Rhea, acting attorney general for the Department of Justice for two months, took the department’s proposed budget before the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance on Friday. He said the Department “has several critical needs, including increased staffing, a modern IT case management system, and trial training programs.”
The proposed budget calls for almost $19 million from the general fund. The lion’s share of that request goes to personnel services, $10.5 million, and fringe benefits, another $4 million. Supplies and utilities would each require about $300,000.
Rhea said this request represents a 5.6 percent decrease from last year’s appropriation and will cause the department “significant challenges.”
Another $7.5 million is projected to be funded by federal grants in 2025.
Rhea referred to several million dollars the department brought to the territory through settlements with the Epstein estate, Walgreens, and Google.
Sen. Donna Frett-Gregory asked for a detailed breakdown of those settlements. Sen. Novelle Francis suggested that Rhea investigate ways to use some of that money to fund Department of Justice projects.
Rhea also addressed the difficulty of retaining a Territorial Medical Examiner, which is required under the V.I. Code. The Department has been unable to attract a medical examiner at a salary of $250,000, which he said is below the national average of about $313,000 a year. However, he added that it is expected that through a federal grant, the Department will supplement the offered salary and hire a staff medical examiner next fiscal year. Rhea also spoke of the lack of a morgue in St. Croix as a significant issue. However, a memorandum of understanding has been entered with the Juan F. Luis Hospital, allowing the use of its new morgue, which should be certified for use shortly. A modular morgue is expected to be functional by the end of 2024.
Rhea testified that the department has 150 positions filled and 16 vacancies, with three new hires in progress.
Sen. Kenneth Gittens asked about the verification of sexual offenders in the territory. However, the Justice Department representatives could not answer his questions.
Rhea told senators that the collaboration between the police department and prosecutors has not always been great, and he is working on improving it.
Besides Frett-Gregory, Gittens, and Francis, present at Friday’s committee hearing were Sens. Marvin Blyden, Samuel Carriόn, Dwayne DeGraff, Ray Fonseca, Javan James, Sr., and Carla Joseph.
