A well-balance approach to criminal justice. We should imprison people who pose a danger to our communities, but not necessarily the people who do not pose a threat by committing non-violent offenses.  We need to consider smart alternatives to incarceration for them that utilize proven methods of rehabilitation, recognizing that providing behavioral health and substance abuse services can be effective at ensuring community stability and safety.

My vision:

  • Create and maintain a criminal prosecution policy that promotes justice and public safety.
  • Employ highly skilled and respectful attorneys to vigorously prosecute crimes.
  • Maintain highly competent civil law attorneys to advise and represent the county and its special districts on land use & development, water resources, employment and service contracts, purchase agreements, intergovernmental agreements and human resource issues.
  • Maintain an office culture that is respectful of the diversity of people who live in Coconino County and appreciate the challenges of its citizens.
  • Lead effort to promote best-evidence practices that improve public safety in a cost-effective manner.
    • Will continue to support specialized court programs, such as drug court, veteran’s court and mental health court.
    • Pursue development of a domestic violence court.
    • Expand efforts to divert people at low risk of reoffending out of the criminal court.
  • Provide more focus on cases of child abuse and neglect.
  • Implement alternatives to jail for low risk offenders that utilize 40 years of science and make the community safer, including expansion of Pathways Program.
  • Create and maintain active training and mentoring for the new prosecutors in the office, ensuring that they are prepared for trial.
  • Collaborate with the jail, health department and behavioral health providers to more effectively provide services for the mentally ill and drug dependent individuals in our community.
  • Address delays in charging felony defendants; prioritize charging within days of their arrest, so they can be kept in jail, when they present a danger to the community.
  • Advocate for improve funding for behavioral and mental health and substance abuse services,.
  • Improve transparency in case charging and disposition, including data on re-offenders, race, socio-economic backgrounds, etc.