Craig MacLellan
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Do you believe the Norfolk County DA’s office needs to make changes, and if so, what kind?
Yes. The primary problem with the DA's office is a lack of visibility and accountability. Most people in Norfolk County don't know anything about it (even with the recent controversy). Outstanding public service will never be possible if the majority of residents served by a public office cannot name the elected official or tell you what they've been doing. As DA, I will be visible, accessible, and innovative. The public the office exists to serve will have true agency in how it functions.
Which of the following are among your top priorities?
Note: Candidate’s chosen priorities are highlighted.
Charge criminal offenders
Divert or dismiss simple drug possession cases
Ensure language access in the criminal legal system
Make sure all people have adequate access to legal help and the legal system
Negotiate with defense attorneys to resolve cases via plea bargain
Prepare for and represent the state in bench and jury trials
Reduce violent crime
Remove violent offenders from the community
Reduce corruption
Support crime victims
Educate the public about the policies, practices and changes in the prosecutors’ office
Prioritize domestic and sexual violence initiatives
Hold law enforcement accountable
Restore public faith in the justice system
Establish a Veterans court
Protect at-risk senior citizens
Guarantee constitutional rights
Prevent recidivism
Other: Improve accountability by increasing public interest and engagement
Please say a little more about what priorities you chose and why.
The public should reasonably expect their DA's office to deliver in all of these areas. However, given the current state of the office and the public's lack of confidence in it, the top priorities must target cultural, overarching objectives that demonstrate a commitment to the community. Otherwise, even the most well-intentioned operational and prosecutorial policies will be met with failure. In short, the top priority is to deliver this public office back to the public it serves.
Do you believe it is your job to support:
Expanded pre-trial services Yes
Alternatives to incarceration Yes
Diversion programs for youth offenders Yes
Diversion programs for mental health-based offenses Yes
Diversion programs for substance abuse related offenses Yes
Children being arrested in school for discipline-based offenses No
Expanding access to legal help within the legal system Yes
Devoting funding and staff time to community-based incarceration alternatives Yes
Victims who want to pursue criminal charges and no contact orders Yes
Victims who do not want to pursue criminal charges and no contact orders Yes
Limiting the use of cash bail in misdemeanor and low-level felony cases Yes
Holding youth in adult jails at any point in the adjudication process No
The limiting of misdemeanor non-dangerous offenses No
Immigrants that are concerned about possible deportation No
Clear public guidelines around the use of sentencing enhancements Yes
Use of independent prosecutors to investigate alleged police brutality Yes
Making the DA’s office more demographically representative Yes
Use of alternative metrics to conviction rates for measuring prosecutor performance Yes
Collecting and sharing de-identified trial and demographic data with the public, including bail and plea bargain offerings Yes
Use of an “open file” policy that provides defendants with information about their prosecution as early as possible Yes
Publicly share information on funding received through civil asset forfeiture Yes
Reducing re-incarceration for those who have violated probation Yes
Publicize policies you will advocate for as part of the Massachusetts District Attorney’s Association (MDAA) Yes
Please take 2 items in the above list and explain why this issue is or is not a priority for you, should you become DA.
Item 1: Immigrants that are concerned about possible deportation
I do not believe supporting immigrants who are concerned about deportation is the DA's job; that is an immigration attorney's job. While the DA should ensure due process and uniform rights for every individual who is prosecuted, the DA's office is a public safety office, not an immigration enforcement office.
Item 2: The limiting of misdemeanor non-dangerous offenses
The DA may support the "limiting of misdemeanor non-dangerous offenses," but such a policy must reflect the will of the people they serve. Any blanket policies should only be implemented after comprehensive community engagement, in which meaningful feedback and input was received from residents, business owners, and law enforcement personnel. This approach will give the community agency in any such decision and will also help identify unintended consequences prior to implementation.