Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Ryan Baty says the number of homicide cases in the county that are awaiting trial are the lowest since pre-COVID.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a backlog in the county court system. In 2021, 126 homicide cases were awaiting trial. That number didn't drop much in 2022 and 2023, when it was 124 and 108 respectively. But the number dropped further this year, from 95 cases in January, to 81 in August to 75 right now.
Baty commended District Attorney Mark Bennett and his office, the sheriff along with the court system in resolving the issue. He says while the numbers have dropped, having 75 homicide cases awaiting trial is jarring to him.