Candidate for
District Attorney Public Administrator; County of Contra Costa

I strongly believe in promoting public safety and as your District Attorney, I will foster the spirit of collaboration between individuals, business and communities in order to do more to keep our County safe.

I have been instrumental in spearheading initiatives to combat domestic violence, elder abuse, child abuse and gang violence in Contra Costa County, both as a Judge and as Deputy District Attorney.

My role as a well-known legal educator will assist me in giving back to community through active participation, as well as the ability to engage in an open dialogue. We will strengthen our diverse communities in Contra Costa through knowledge, education, action and preventative measures.

Whilst my administration will seek justice for ALL crimes, and will treat victims of crime with dignity and respect, we will also focus on the following areas:

1. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

• Only 1 in 7 instances of domestic violence are reported
• The cycle of domestic violence affects not only the direct victims, but also the children and other family members who witness and learn from the behavior
• I will uphold the Zero Tolerance Policy against domestic violence
• I will ensure that victims of domestic violence receive compassionate, quality prosecution at every level

• I will expand our Elder Abuse Unit in order meet the needs of our aging community
• Crime prevention is our universal priority, and I will expand our community outreach efforts
• Develop strong partnerships with Elder Abuse Prevention and other local agencies to provide training at regional community outreach events
• I will implement a licensing program so that every caregiver who is entrusted by the family is first screened by the County
• I will also advocate for an Elder Abuse fine to generate revenue similar to the Domestic Violence Fund assessed in every conviction

• 80% of violent crime is committed by gang members, and gang violence in our neighborhoods does not stop at city boundaries or county lines
• I will implement a County-wide Gang Task Force which will foster collaboration and information-sharing with every police agency in Contra Costa County
• I will create and maintain partnerships with the Federal Government and Statewide Agencies.
• I will make a functional Contra Costa County Gang Database a top priority
• I will send the clear message that Contra Costa County stands ready to meet gang violence with the harshest penalties possible

• Community Courts are an alternative way to prosecute misdemeanors to relieve our already over-extended courthouses
• These Community Courts are collaborative efforts with the DA's office, community leaders, law enforcement and local citizens whose lives are affected by crime, to seek justice and restitution
• I will appoint a "Community Prosecutor" to represent regions of this county to act as a liaison between community members and the DA's Office
• The Community Prosecutor will hold regular town-hall type forums with other law enforcement agencies to ensure that particular community needs are heard

• As a former Judge and Deputy District Attorney, I saw first-hand the inefficiencies of our criminal justice system
• We must reprioritize cases and maximize court time so that victims of crime are afforded the dignity and respect they deserve
• I will make the reduced budget work harder for the DA's Office without compromising the performance of the office, ensuring the budget is not balanced on the backs of crime victims
• I will prosecute all categories of crime: from driving under the influence cases, theft and vandalism, to rape and murder. If we turn our backs on some crime, we turn our backs on all crime

• I will make hiring and retaining quality attorneys a top priority of my administration, bringing quality prosecution to our community at every level
• I will review and rework the current 3-year probationary period for attorneys, so we can retain the best and the brightest
• Our prosecutors should reflect the community they represent, so I plan to focus on diversity within the office
• The DA's Office should be an aspirational place for graduates and provide a rewarding career in serving the people of this community, not merely a superb training ground for younger attorneys so they can move on to better opportunities

http://www.DanOMalley.org