KNOWLEDGE IS POWER:
Sample Questions for District Attorney Candidate Questionnaires/Forums

Budget Crisis

• The state is facing the worst budget crisis in nearly a century and spending on corrections is an enormous drain on the General Fund. Would your charging and plea bargaining policies consider the impact of your decisions on the state budget?

• Do you support reducing spending on corrections and if so how? If not, how do you propose to fund the current corrections system?

[back to top ^]

Death Penalty

• Death penalty trials require many more resources from the prosecution, defense, and court system than other homicide trials and cost the taxpayers millions each year. Are you concerned about the amount of money and resources used in death penalty cases?

• What would your policies be as District Attorney regarding when to seek the death penalty?

• What would you do as District Attorney to minimize the risk of sentencing an innocent person to death?

• Would you support changing the law to replace the death penalty with permanent imprisonment?
  

[back to top ^]

Drug Laws

• Do you support sending non-violent drug offenders to state prison, why or why not?

• What would your office policies be regarding plea bargaining in drug offense cases? Would you encourage plea bargains that include drug treatment and rehabilitation in place of incarceration and state prison?

• Studies show racial disparities in drug law enforcement, despite the fact that whites and people of color use and sell drugs at the same rate. Are you concerned about racial disparities in drug law enforcement and if so, what would you do to minimize these disparities?

[back to top ^]

Juvenile Justice

• What would your policy be regarding charging children in adult court? When would you use your authority to file charges in adult court and when would you pursue a case in juvenile court?

• Do you support sending young offenders to restorative justice programs and other avenues that divert young people out of the juvenile justice system and toward new opportunities? If so, what would you do as District Attorney to promote such programs?

• What would you do to reduce the numbers of juveniles – particularly Latino and African American youth – who are brought into the criminal justice system? What policies would you put in place to ensure fair and unbiased use of prosecutorial discretion in juvenile court?

[back to top ^]

Police Use of Force

• As District Attorney, how would you handle a fatal use of force incident involving local police?

• Do you support civilian oversight of law enforcement?

[back to top ^]

Rehabilitation and Prevention

• What programs and policies would you implement as District Attorney to reduce crime and increase public safety in the county?

• Do you support rehabilitation programs in prison and in the local community? If so, would you advocate to continue and expand funding for such programs?

• Do you support diversion and mentor programs for first time offenders ages 18-25? If so, what would you do as District Attorney to promote such programs?

[back to top ^]

Three Strikes

• What would your office policy be regarding the application of the Three Strikes Law? What criteria would you use to determine when to charge someone with a second or third strike under the Three Strikes Law?

• Would you ever prosecute non-violent felonies such as petty theft as a third strike under the law?

• Would you support reforming the Three Strikes Law to require that the third strike be a violent felony?

[back to top ^]