Do you believe the Norfolk County DA’s office needs to make changes, and if so, what kind?
The office must drastically broaden what is viewed as conflict of interest and assure that no investigators or attorneys working a case have ties to any victim, witness, or defendant. I will establish an Emerging Adults Court in Quincy to guide non-violent young offenders back toward productivity. I will mandate annual diversity training for all staff to root out every form of bias and strive for a workforce that reflects the populations we serve. I will create Cold Case and Animal Abuse units.
Greg’s Top Priorities
Charge criminal offenders
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: Many of these items are at the core of the role of the District Attorney. Even simple possession cases need an individual analysis. I have tried over 100 cases, negotiated 1000s of pleas and created treatment courts, including the first Veterans Court in New England.
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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
Please say a little more about what priorities you chose and why.
Protecting crime victims and fighting to secure justice is fundamental. But a wise prosecutor must also recognize that the power of the court must be used to deal with the substance abuse, mental health, and other factors that drive criminal activity. I helped develop and implement the Quincy Drug Court and found the county’s Veterans Services Court; I will use that experience to implement a Quincy Emerging Adults Court, similarly, designed to address the problems that lead to re-offense.
Do you believe it is your job to support:
✅ = yes ❌ = no ⚫️ = no response
✅ Expanded pre-trial services
✅ Alternatives to incarceration
✅ Diversion programs for youth offenders
✅ Diversion programs for mental health-based offenses
✅ Diversion programs for substance abuse related offenses
❌ Children being arrested in school for discipline-based offenses
✅ Expanding access to legal help within the legal system
✅ Devoting funding and staff time to community-based incarceration alternatives
✅ Victims who want to pursue criminal charges and no contact orders
✅ Victims who do not want to pursue criminal charges and no contact orders
✅ Limiting the use of cash bail in misdemeanor and low-level felony cases
❌ Holding youth in adult jails at any point in the adjudication process
✅ The limiting of misdemeanor non-dangerous offenses
✅ Immigrants that are concerned about possible deportation
✅ Clear public guidelines around the use of sentencing enhancements
✅ Use of independent prosecutors to investigate alleged police brutality
✅ Making the DA’s office more demographically representative
✅ Use of alternative metrics to conviction rates for measuring prosecutor performance
✅ Collecting and sharing de-identified trial and demographic data with the public, including bail and plea bargain offerings
✅ Use of an “open file” policy that provides defendants with information about their prosecution as early as possible
✅ Publicly sharing information on funding received through civil asset forfeiture
✅ Reducing re-incarceration for those who have violated probation
✅ Publicize policies you will advocate for as part of the Massachusetts District Attorney’s Association (MDAA)
Download our full candidate issue comparison
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: Alternatives to incarceration
Crimes that involve hurting someone else may require incarceration; crimes that involve hurting yourself, you probably need help. My experience expanding juvenile diversion programs, developing the Quincy Drug Treatment Court, the county’s Veterans Court, and prosecuting thousands of cases has taught me that alternatives to incarceration can be more effective in making our communities safe. No jail sentence cures substance use disorder or mental health problems.
Item 2: Victims who want to pursue criminal charges and no contact orders
Victims must have somewhere to turn. The system fails if it does not seek justice and safety for victims. When crime disrupts the peaceful lives of our neighbors, they must trust that calling police will lead not only to their immediate safety, but to some return to peace and freedom from fear. As key as it is to address the roots of non-violent crime through constructive intervention, it is vital that citizens feel safe in their lives.