A recent initiative to speed the process from arrest to arraignment for simple drug cases remains on track, according to a report given to the City Council on Thursday.

But later that presentation turned into a heated exchange between Councilwoman Shelly Midura and New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley that stemmed from the need for more police support. The program, Expedited Screening and Disposition Initiative, which began March 31, aims to reduce the processing time for simple drug possession when no other state charges are involved. The goal is to cut the time to six to eight days, from an average of more than 50 days. Ideally, the arraignment would then be held the next business day after the district attorney accepts the charges.

The report, presented by Jon Wool of the Vera Institute of Justice, found that half the cases involved in the initiative were significantly expedited, from 53 days down to 13.5 days. Currently, the district attorney is allowed 45 to 60 days for processing. The report examined the results of the initiative from April 16 to 30. During that time, the district attorney received 103 cases and accepted 65 percent of the charges.

“There is much to be proud of but there is also much more we can do,” Wool said.

However, some glitches did emerge. The district attorney’s office agreed to make a screening decision within 24 hours of the electronic receipt of the completed police report. But only seven, or less than 6 percent, of the screened cases were filed within five days. The plan also calls for completed and approved police reports to be sent to the district attorney’s office within 48 hours, but out of 131 reports, only 56 – about 43 percent – were received within two days,.

The initiative could decrease the number of people in jail waiting to be charged, according to officials. During the meeting, members of the Criminal Justice Leadership Alliance, a coalition of local officials seeking reforms, asserted that, given the high cost and lack of funding, jail should be used only for those who need it. The alliance said there isn’t enough money to operate the jails efficiently. It costs $23 a day for each incarcerated person.

“Research shows you will make them worse,” said Michael Jacobson, director of the national Vera Institute of Justice. “Long lays of stay for low-level folks makes them a higher public safety threat.” In addition, the government should “make sure they have every dollar profitable to reduce crime,” he said.

Arnie Fielkow, City Council vice president, advised the alliance to “keep doing long-term reforms and don’t get discouraged when making the city safe day in and day out.”

Riley , whose force has 1,561 officers. said arrests are going down, but said it would be “a long tough summer,” with officers working 12-hour shifts. The success of the initiative depends on the resources available, officials said. Various criminal justice agencies, including the New Orleans Police Department, the sheriff’s office and the clerk’s office, remain understaffed and underfunded.

Criminal Sheriff Marlin Gusman, who works with a staff of 708, says it is difficult to keep employees.

“We’re moving forward but we do not have the tools we need,” said Clerk of Court Arthur Morrell, who also emphasized the need for updated technology. “We’re slowing it down because we need to modernize our office.”

But the meeting took a different turn after District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro addressed the council about the need for more police assistance in solving cases and speeding up the processing rate.

In an earlier private conversation Riley turned down Cannizzaro’s request to have the police department assist with cases. Cannizzaro presented the issue before the council in hopes that Riley would change his mind under pressure.

Riley said if he had more officers he would and suggested that the district attorney use the skills of retired officers.

But Midura pushed the issue and said the district attorney had a plan and Riley did not. She also questioned Riley’s earlier request for $2 million for overtime for the police department.

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Riley asked.

“I don’t understand that,” Midura responded.

Riley lashed out at Midura, adding that it didn’t shock him that she would “vote against citizens’ safety,” in an attempt to help the district attorney. He added that he would not buckle simply because the district attorney decided to bring the issue before the city council. “My answer is no,” he said.

Flabbergasted by Riley’s response, Midura sat silently.