NEW YORK, NY March 20, 2008 —The city's district attorneys warned the Council that the mayor's budget cuts would actually cost the city millions in police overtime and increase the chances a violent suspect might be released.

WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more.

The DA's contend they never recovered from cuts made in the aftermath of 9/11, meanwhile arrests have increased dramatically. As a result, the average assistant DA has a case load of as many as 200.

Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau says the cuts will reduce his ability to go after global fraud cases that have New York City roots.

MORGENTHAU: Some of these situations off shore are very serious. You know, at this time there is $1.9 trillion on deposit in the Cayman Islands, as against $400 billion on deposit in New York. So more and more money is migrating off shore.

REPORTER: Morgenthau told council budget makers that since 2004, such white collar prosecutions had brought in $100 million to city coffers, as well as more accountability to the markets.

For WNYC, I'm Bob Hennelly.

OUTRO: In the past, the council has worked to add money to the D-A's budget. The council and Mayor Bloomberg have until the end of June to reach an agreement on the budget.