STOP THE REVOLVING DOOR IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

I AM RUNNING FOR PUBLIC DEFENDER TO CHANGE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS WE KNOW IT.

THE PROBLEM:

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY, 1 IN 99 AMERICAN'S ARE INCARCERATED. WE HAVE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF CITIZENS IN JAIL THAN ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
IN A TIME OF TIGHT BUDGETS, WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO AFFORD, AT A COST OF $71.00 PER DAY, TO INCARCERATE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
10% OF THE PEOPLE WHO ENTER THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE “CAREER CRIMINALS” OR “FREQUENT FLIERS.” MANY OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE COMMITTED VIOLENT OFFENSES AND SHOULD BE BEHIND BARS AND AWAY FROM SOCIETY.
HOWEVER, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO COME INTO THE SYSTEM ARE NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE DRIVES THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. 85% OF THE CASES IN THE SYSTEM STEM FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE. ADDICTS GET CAUGHT WITH DRUGS, SELLING DRUGS, OR COMMITTING CRIMES TO GET MONEY FOR DRUGS.
WE HAVE TAKEN A PAVLOVIAN APPROACH TO DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM. WE ARREST THEM, PUT THEM ON PROBATION. THEY FAIL DRUG TESTS. THEY ARE REARRESTED, THEY GET ANOTHER CHANCE. THEY FAIL AGAIN. THEN THEY GO TO PRISON.
THIS METHOD OF DEALING WITH DRUG ADDICTS IN THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN AN UTTER FAILURE.
STATE SPONSORED DRUG PROGRAMS HAVE TRIED TO DO GOOD WORK, BUT THEIR RECIDIVISM RATES ARE TOO HIGH, AND THE FUNDING FOR THEM IS ABOUT TO EVAPORATE.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO INCARCERATE THOUSANDS OF MENTALLY-ILL DRUG ADDICTS.
WE MUST RETHINK THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS IN THE SYSTEM IF WE ARE GOING TO STOP THE REVOLVING DOOR

A NEW APPROACH …

MY OPPONENTS IN THIS ELECTION HAVE SPENT THEIR ENTIRE CAREERS WORKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT. THEY HAVE ALSO SPENT THEIR ENTIRE CAREERS AS CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS.
I HAVE WORKED ON ALL SIDES OF THE SYSTEM – IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR. I HAVE BEEN A STATE AND FEDERAL PROSECUTOR. I WAS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE POLICE ACADEMY. I HAVE ALSO RUN A LAW FIRM FOR 8 YEARS.
I BELIEVE MY DIVERSE BACKGROUND GIVES ME A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
IN MY EXPERIENCE, PROGRAMS THAT SEEK TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE IN THE SYSTEM ARE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL.
THESE PROGRAMS ARE PRIVATELY RUN, AND PRIVATELY FUNDED, SO THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET CUTS. THEY ALSO DO NOT HAVE THEIR HANDS TIED BY GOVERNMENT REGULATION AND RED TAPE.
SOME OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE FAITH-BASED. THEY ARE RUN BY CHURCHES AND ARE FUNDED THROUGH DONATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH AND PRIVATE BUSINESSES.
THESE PROGRAMS CHANGE LIVES BECAUSE THEY CHANGE HEARTS.
WHEN I AM PUBLIC DEFENDER, I WILL PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE EVERY DAY TO ENCOURAGE MY CLIENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE PROGRAMS BEFORE THEIR CASES GO TO COURT.
MY CLIENTS WILL UNDERSTAND THAT THE BEST WAY TO AVOID BEING INCARCERATED IS TO GET OFF DRUGS, BECOME GAINFULLY EMPLOYED, AND BECOME A PERSON OF VALUE TO THEIR FAMILY.
THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE THAT THE ELECTED PUBLIC DEFENDER CAN BE A LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY TO PREVENT CRIME.
LAWYERS WHO WORK IN MY OFFICE WILL NOT BE MEASURED BY HOW MANY CASES THEY WIN, OR HOW MANY CASES THEY PLEA BARGAIN. I WILL JUDGE MY ATTORNEYS BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THEY HELP GET OUT OF THE SYSTEM!