In recent years, the Contra Costa County Office of the District Attorney has become more proactive in the Consumer Protection arena. We have become more involved in multi-jurisdictional task forces. Our increased participation has led to a more significant role in the civil cases that arise from the task force's enforcement efforts. For example, we are currently heading towards litigation on at least three major consumer protection civil cases.  
  
In order to handle these cases and to continue to handle the consumer cases at the rate at which we are receiving referrals, we require one additional Senior Investigator position and one Deputy District Attorney position. All of the positions assigned to the Consumer Protection unit, including the newly created positions, are 100% funded with the District Attorney's Consumer Protection Fund. Deposits to those funds result from the settlement of Consumer cases and are required by various statutes to be spent on consumer protection enforcement. The DA Consumer Protection fund has sufficient resources to pay for these new positions long-term.   
  

The District Attorney's office has received an increase in consumer protection cases that require additional staff to manage the increase in case referrals. The department has increased their involvement in multi-jurisdictional task forces; this has led to increased participation and a significant role in the civil cases that arise from the efforts of the task force. Adding these two positions will allow the Consumer Protection unit to handle the increase in referrals. If this action is not approved, the District Attorney's Office will be unable to add the positions requested in the Consumer Protection Unit.