Federal Agents Prosecuting Fewer In Kansas

A new report shows federal prosecutors charged about 21 percent fewer defendants last year in Kansas than in 2012, led by steep declines in immigration and drug cases.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas says it, like other districts, has faced gaps in resources over the past two years due to a federal hiring freeze and budget cuts. It says federal agencies that investigate cases for prosecution have felt similar pressures.

The federal judiciary’s report released Tuesday shows U.S. prosecutors in Kansas filed 895 criminal cases in 2013, compared with 1,128 cases the previous year.

Nationwide, filings of federal criminal cases dropped 3 percent to 91,266.

Much of the decline in Kansas reflects a significant downturn in prosecutions for illegal re-entry by immigrants.