NCJ Number
61410
Date Published
1979
Length
94 pages
Annotation
BASED ON REPLIES TO A QUESTIONNAIRE SENT TO STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL'S OFFICES IN JULY 1979, INFORMATION ON BUDGETS AND SALARIES FOR ATTORNEYS GENERAL'S OFFICES IS PROVIDED.
Abstract
THE QUESTIONNAIRE WAS RETURNED BY ALL JURISDICTIONS EXCEPT COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, KENTUCKY, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, OKLAHOMA, PENNSYLVANIA, PUERTO RICO, TEXAS, AND VERMONT. INFORMATION FOR THESE OFFICES WAS TAKEN FROM PRIOR QUESTIONNAIRES. MOST OFFICES HAVE CAREFULLY DEFINED ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES, WITH SPECIAL DIVISIONS FOR ANTITRUST IN 34 OFFICES, FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION IN 39 OFFICES, AND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL IN 30. FORTY-NINE OF THE 54 JURISDICTIONS EACH APPROPRIATE OVER $1 MILLION ANNUALLY TO THEIR ATTORNEYS GENERAL'S OFFICES. MOST BUDGETS INCLUDE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS, USUALLY TO FUND A PARTICULAR UNIT OR A SPECIAL PROJECT. OF 42 OFFICES REPORTING, 16 HAVE REVOLVING FUNDS, WITH MOST USED FOR ANTITRUST ENFORCEMENT. OF 42 OFFICES REPORTING, 18 HAD CURRENT GRANTS FROM LEAA; GRANT SIZE RANGED FROM AN ESTIMATED $1,585 TO $2 MILLION. ATTORNEYS GENERAL'S SALARIES RANGE FROM $25,000 TO $60,000 PER YEAR, WITH 21 JURISDICTIONS PAYING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL $40,000 OR MORE. SALARIES OF CHIEF DEPUTIES RANGE FROM $22,575 TO $56,925, WITH A MEDIAN RANGE OF $38,292 TO $38,500; AVERAGE SALARIES FOR ATTORNEYS WITH 4 YEARS EXPERIENCE RANGE FROM $17,673 TO $38,868, WITH A MEDIAN OF $24,000; SALARIES OF ATTORNEYS WITH NO EXPERIENCE RANGE FROM $12,500 TO $22,584. THERE ARE 6,046 FULL-TIME AND 131 PART-TIME ATTORNEYS IN STATE GOVERNMENT; OF THESE, ALL BUT 1,769 FULL-TIME AND 41 PART-TIME ATTORNEYS ARE LOCATED IN ATTORNEYS GENERAL'S OFFICES OR ARE PAID BY THAT OFFICE. THERE IS AN INCREASING USE OF NONLEGAL PERSONNEL. IN ADDITION TO CLERICAL, STENOGRAPHIC, AND CUSTODIAL PERSONNEL, OFFICES EMPLOY AUDITORS, ECONOMISTS, LIBRARIANS, AND OTHER SPECIALISTS. THE NUMBER OF OPINIONS ISSUED IN 1978 RANGED FROM 4 TO 1,800; THE MEDIAN WAS 81, A DECREASE FROM THE MEDIAN OF 121 IN 1976. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)