Funding Approved for New FCPO Unit Created to Speed Up Trial Time

Posted on 4/9/2025

Defendant:

This morning, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners approved funding for the creation of a dedicated Discovery Unit within the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office. The creation of this unit is a pivotal step in advancing timely justice, reducing case backlogs, and fulfilling a key campaign promise made by Prosecutor Shayla Favor.

The Discovery Unit will be tasked with streamlining the evidence-sharing process between law enforcement and defense counsel. "Discovery" in law is a formal process of the exchange of legal information and known facts of a case including, documents, witness statements, and expert reports. This is a necessary step in the pre-trial process.
 
As of March 27, the Prosecutor’s Office had more than 2,100 pending discovery requests, and 281 active murder or aggravated murder cases in adult court alone—delays that can prolong pre-trial detention, undermining trust in the justice system and costing tax payer unnecessary spending.

“Creating this unit is not just an operational improvement, it's a commitment to justice,” said Franklin County Prosecutor Shayla Favor. “By centralizing our discovery process, we will reduce costly delays, fulfill our legal obligations, and ensure cases move through the courts with fairness, accuracy, and speed. I am grateful to the Commissioners for their support.”

The unit will model best practices already adopted by other large Ohio counties like Cuyahoga and Hamilton, and is expected to cut down on errors, enhance transparency, and reduce the financial and human cost of extended pre-trial detention. With an estimated cost of $110 per day for each prisoner in Franklin County, even modest reductions in unnecessary incarceration could generate significant taxpayer savings.
 
This funding is also a step in addressing a budget disparity. In 2024, the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office operated with $ 30.7 million and 257  employees.
Now, compare that to other law enforcement agencies in the county:

• The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office operated with $ 218.6 million and 1,361 employees.
• The Columbus Division of Police commands a budget of $390 million and employs about 2,300 staff members.
• The Ohio State Highway Patrol operates with $446 million and 2,500 employees. 

In addition to the new Discovery Unit, the approved funding includes resources to hire four senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys to help stabilize growing caseloads, improve charging decisions, and further reduce delays in the court system.
 
The Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office remains committed to building a more accountable, transparent, and transformative justice system—one that keeps pace with the scale of law enforcement while safeguarding the rights of all involved.