A case is heard in Medford Municipal Court in April 2023.

Medford Municipal Court cases continue to jump this year as drug offenses surge and patrols by the Medford police Livability Team tamp down illegal activity.

“We are realistically not only the biggest municipal court in the region, but the busiest in the state,” municipal court Judge Virginia Greer told Medford City Council recently.

In 2016, the court had 2,316 misdemeanor cases. By 2022, that number had jumped to 4,149, and in 2023, it rose to 4,826.

From January to the end of June this year, the municipal court had 2,743 misdemeanor cases, a 24% increase over the 2,219 cases during the same period in 2023.

“As we came out of COVID, the numbers skyrocketed,” Greer said.

These cases are in addition to the 26,000 traffic violations that are processed through the court.

The municipal court handles misdemeanor offenses such as trespassing and disorderly conduct.

Greer said it will be interesting to see what happens after Sept. 1, when the re-criminalization of possession of small amounts of drugs takes effect, essentially rolling back Measure 110, the voter-approved drug decriminalization law of 2020.

To deal with increased workload, Greer has undertaken initiatives to process cases quicker and efficiently. A new outreach court has been set up at other locations such as the Kelly Shelter and United Way of Jackson County that helps reduce the number of failures to appear.

Greer said she was on her way to a United Way-sponsored remote court recently and saw a line out the door when she pulled up. She asked someone inside if there was an event going on that day. “‘Yeah, you,’” was the response she received.

Since the outreach court began this year, Greer said it has processed 741 cases and 94 defendants.

“It’s not uncommon for someone to come into court with 20, 30 and sometimes 40 cases,” she said.

Greer said more effective use of technology has been ramped up, as well, including text and email alerts, both of which help with failures to appear.

At the same time, she said the municipal court is working more closely with community partners to provide avenues for offenders to get the support they need.

More microphones and video technology have been added to the courtroom to better handle cases remotely, particularly for people in jail.

Greer said the eight beds reserved by the city at the Jackson County Jail have also helped deal with some of the offenders. Councilor Jessica Ayres, who praised the steps Greer and her staff have undertaken to streamline the court, wondered what is causing the caseload surge.

Greer said, “My best guess, and I’ve only been there a year and a half, is the expansion of the Livability Team.”

The Livability Team patrols the downtown and the greenways.

City Attorney Eric Mitton, whose office also deals with the municipal court cases, said, “Nowadays drugs are involved in every case that comes across my desk.”

Greer said the re-criminalization of drugs in September could lead to fewer cases in her court, sending them instead to the Jackson County District Attorney and Jackson County Circuit Court.

Councilor Nick Card told Greer he hoped the state and county could step up and deal with the many cases that are the result of mental health problems.

“I think you’re doing a fantastic job with the hand that you’re dealt,” he said.