Budget cuts could affect juvenile court

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Juvenile court Judge Edmond Naman said he's losing sleep at night, worried over budget cuts.

He said his office is already severely under budgeted and he fears if state cuts to the court system are approved it could put public safety in danger, and devastate the judicial branch of government.

The Mobile Juvenile Court system heard more than 1,100 cases last year.

Everything from truancy to delinquency and much worse.

"We deal with disaster every single day. And we are really good at what we do. But we can only take so many cuts before it hurts your ability to do the things you need to do," said Naman.

Judge Naman said proposed state budget cuts would cripple the entire court system especially in Mobile which is one of the busiest.

Naman said last year's cuts meant losing 14 people with only two days notice, and he fears this newest round of proposed cuts will be worse.

"Last year, I lost lost 40 percent of my staff because of state budget cuts. This year, I am looking at possible losing half of what we have left," said Naman.

Naman said the cuts will impact the adult system as well as the juvenile courts.  He also said it could mean keeping dangerous people on the streets longer while waiting for trial.

Because with fewer people and dollars, trial dates will pushed back time and again.

Naman wants to remind lawmakers just how important the court system is.

"We are not an agency. This is a branch of government. The well being lives and safety of the community depend on us and people don't realize this. I feel it is my moral obligation to tell you what can happen when you devastate a branch of government," said Naman.

Naman said the budget for the entire court system of Alabama is in danger of being cut by 28 million

The Alabama House has given final approval to a $1.4 billion general fund budget that restores $184 million to medicaid and takes it from Alabama's Prison System.

The Senate has yet to vote on the measure.