Candidate for
District Attorney; City of San Francisco

Reducing Crime:

As District Attorney, using my extensive experience in the criminal justice system, I have begun the process of changing our practices in the DA's office to ensure increased community safety, while modifying offender behavior to reduce recidivism and the high social and financial costs.

Our current models that rely heavily on incarceration have not worked. Recidivism rates in California are among the highest in the nation. The financial and social costs of our current system have become prohibitively expensive.

As District Attorney, I am creating a new style of prosecution that assesses risks and manages outcomes, with the goal of creating sustainable solutions rather than continuing to cycle offenders in and out of the system.

Creating Safer Neighborhoods:

Safer neighborhoods are my priority. That's why as District Attorney I've established neighborhood courts that address low level crimes quickly, efficiently and effectively, ensuring victims receive quick restitution and offenders receive appropriate consequences.

In Neighborhood Courts, community volunteers serving as arbitrators work with members of my office to decriminalize many low level offenses, provide restitution for victims and neighborhoods that have been impacted by crimes, and ensure low-level offenders face appropriate consequences swiftly, at a fraction of the cost of traditional courts.

Protecting Victims of Crime:

As career law enforcement officer, I know first hand how important it is for every victim to feel protected and respected, regardless of his or her gender, age or station in life.

As District Attorney, I have reorganized our office to ensure we can effectively protect victims of violent and other crimes, and vigorously prosecute offenders.

One hallmark of a healthy society is a community that comes together to help and protect those that are less able to protect themselves. That is why I have directed a series of initiatives, including partnering with victim advocates, to ensure our most vulnerable populations such as children, victims of domestic violence, victims of hate crimes, elder abuse and unrepresented workers are better protected.