The Office of Statewide Prosecution is effective: it achieved a 96% conviction rate and law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and victims report the office is doing a good job. The office annually collects more money for victims and government agencies than its operating budget.
Whether the state attorneys could conduct the office's work at a lower cost per case cannot be determined because the two entities define cases differently, total state attorney costs are not known, and the types of cases handled by the two differ.
Our review of cases identified by state attorneys as being of questionable jurisdiction found that the cases fell within the jurisdiction of the office. While state attorneys felt that some cases were not of sufficient magnitude to warrant the attention of the statewide prosecutor, there were legitimate reasons for the office to pursue these cases. Miscommunication and misunderstanding were factors in a number of these contentious cases.
Law enforcement agencies report that there is more than enough prosecutorial work to be done and urge the entities to mend their rift. Better communication individually and through the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association is essential to serving the public interest.

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.