Priorities For the Future

Introduction – Executive Summary

As District Attorney of Boulder County, I inherit an office with a strong legacy of upholding the law and generating positive change. Under Stan Garnett’s leadership, the office has become a statewide leader in public safety and criminal justice reform. As a new era begins, we must use the opportunity to build upon this legacy. As District Attorney, I am committed to carrying out a progressive vision of the Boulder County prosecutor’s office. This vision centers on the following major principles:

• The core mission of seeking justice in every case, without fear or favor. Every case will be prosecuted rigorously, regardless of the wealth or public position of the accused, the victim, or any other
  interested party.
• The highest standards of prosecutorial excellence and ethics in the handling of all cases.
• A focus on crime prevention through education, treatment, problem-solving and diversion programs.
• Securing justice for the most vulnerable in our society ­ such as members of immigrant communities, and victims of domestic violence, sex crimes, elder abuse, and bias and hate crimes.
• Finding alternatives to jail for non­violent offenders who are juveniles, veterans, and those suffering from mental illness and/or drug addiction.
• Community engagement and collaboration with the aim of fostering confidence and improvement in our criminal justice system.

I will use my twenty years of experience as a courtroom prosecutor, the manager of prosecutors’ offices, and a leader in criminal justice reform to bring these principles to life in the 20th Judicial District. But while experience and vision are vital to running a successful District Attorney’s Office, it is just as important to have a plan for accomplishing these goals. The following is a summary of the areas of focus in which I will seek to implement policies and programs during my tenure as District Attorney. My hope is that I can give staff, law enforcement, and community members a clear expectation of what to expect from our office. 1 also believe that by setting out my priorities now ­ some of which will require new resources or wider changes in the justice system ­ I can begin making progress on these needed reforms immediately upon taking office.

As District Attorney, I will work tirelessly to keep our community safe and to provide innovative, progressive leadership for our criminal justice system.

Bias and Hate Crimes

I will dedicate prosecutors to develop expertise on handling bias and hate crimes, work proactively with law enforcement, and conduct extensive outreach to affected communities.

Cold Case Homicide Review

I will continue the Office’s efforts to ensure justice is achieved in unsolved homicide cases, a process that requires productive collaboration with the relevant law enforcement agencies.

Community Outreach Partnership Program

Community outreach, both as an educator and a listener, is critical to my vision of the District Attorney’s Office. My staff and I will regularly organize and participate in community events, provide educational tools and seminars, and meet with groups and leaders from every part of the community.

Consumer Protection

Predatory scams and frauds can victimize anyone but often are targeted at vulnerable groups such as the elderly, immigrants and young people. I will continue to develop programs aimed at improving fraud prevention education for these groups, and partner with local, state and federal agencies to thoroughly investigate and prosecute these cases.

Conviction Integrity Program

I will begin a Conviction Integrity Program within the District Attorney’s Office to investigate claims of wrongful conviction. The review protocols and process will be developed in collaboration with the defense bar, judiciary, law enforcement and victim advocacy groups.

Domestic Violence

While prosecution of offenders is a critical component of handling domestic violence cases, I will work with other stakeholders to form the Boulder County Family Peace Center to provide integrated services for victims, affected family members, and offenders.

Environmental Crimes

My office also will work collaboratively with environmental and law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute crimes that damage the environment and health of our community.

Gun Safety and Gun Death Prevention

I will take active steps to prevent and combat gun violence, including working with relevant agencies and retailers to prevent domestic violence offenders from obtaining guns, providing gun safety education in the community, and bringing Boulder County into the Colorado Gun Intelligence Center’s programs.

Implicit Bias and Diversity Outreach

All employees of the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office may participate in a review on implicit bias and, as needed, I will establish new protocols to combat biases that are identified. I will actively recruit a diverse staff of attorneys and personnel.

Jail Overcrowding and Bond Reform

I will work with stakeholders in the criminal justice system to develop common-sense policies that reduce the number of non­violent offenders sentenced to jail ­such as providing quality treatment options for drug addicted offenders who commit crimes to support their addictions.

The Opioid Crisis

I will continue the office’s participation in the Boulder County Opioid Advisory Group, looking for coordinated solutions to the ongoing opioid crisis ­particularly, improved treatment options for opioid addiction.

Problem-Solving Courts

A long-term priority will be developing specialized treatment courts in Boulder County for military veterans and those suffering from mental health conditions and/or drug addiction. These courts provide jail alternatives through a variety of medical, mental health and other professional services, and greatly reduce recidivism among these groups. I also will work to create a Driving Under the Influence Court to provide appropriate services, monitoring and recidivist prosecution in these cases.

Protecting Immigrants

I will use the resources and authority of my office to protect immigrant populations by enhancing training for office staff on handling cases affecting immigrants, increasing outreach and education efforts, and enhancing the U­Visa program for crime victims and witnesses.

Public Corruption

My office will actively investigate and prosecute any cases involving corrupt public officials. I also will establish a system to allow confidential reporting of these crimes.

Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking

Expanding on the dedicated work of the Office’s Sex Assault Division, I will create a Workplace Sexual Violence Task Force for Boulder County agencies, businesses and educational institutions. My office also will develop specialized curricula for young people on sexting and cyberbullying, and work with area colleges and high schools to ensure Title IX protections are being enforced. I also will engage with District Attorneys and law enforcement agencies to create a Statewide Human Trafficking Team.

Vehicular Crimes Initiative

I will support Vision Zero programs, working with law enforcement to expand problem ­solving courts for DUI offenses, as well as programs dedicated to impaired ­driving enforcement, affordable transportation alternatives, and education efforts. This initiative will also focus on vigorously prosecuting repeat offenders.

Workers’ Rights

Wage theft and other labor law violations are an ongoing concern for the underemployed, immigrants and others. I will work to protect workers’ rights by creating a reporting system for these crimes, providing staff training, and working with unions, non­profits and appropriate agencies on providing robust assistance in these cases.