Who is the most powerful elected ocial most voters have never heard of?

Your District Aorney!

The District Aorney (DA) speaks “for the people” and is charged with prosecung the accused in our criminal courts. DAs have immense power in the criminal jusce system, yet too lile aenon is paid to DA races.Now is the me to exercise your power: Select, endorse, and vote for a DA candidate who speaks for you and your community. Once elected, hold this DA accountable to community concerns while in oce. The DA works for all of us!Our District Aorney has impact on:

Rehabilitaon and Prevenon:

Over the last 20 years, California has been locking up more people for longer periods, while slashing funding for rehabilitaon programs, which cost much less than incarceraon and improve the chances for successful reentry into the community. DAs drive incarceraon spending through their decisions about what charges to le and which plea bargains to oer. Our DA should promote treatment and rehabilitave services over incarceraon, which will both save money and improve outcomes.

Drug Laws:

Studies show that, regardless of race or ethnicity, people use and sell drugs at the same rate, yet drug prosecuons fall disproporonately on people of color. Our DA should ensure that drug laws are enforced fairly, and should direct non-violent drug oenders to rehabilitaon programs that cost less and reduce repeat crime.

Juvenile Jusce:

DA acons regarding youth are especially important! Low-income youth and youth of color are disproporonately funneled into the juvenile system via school-based arrests. The DA can allow these cases to be resolved by our schools or through diversion. DAs also have power to divert youth from the system in cases of non-school-based arrests. Prevenng youth from entering the juvenile system is the best soluon for all. In more serious cases, when the DA decides to charge a youth as an adult, we know it makes that youth more likely to re-oend.

Responsible Policing:

 The DA represents all members of our community, including vicms of police misconduct. The DA decides when to prosecute police ocers for inappropriate use of force, planng evidence, or perjury. Our DA should also promote cooperaon and trust between the police and the community by supporng civilian oversight of law enforcement and transparency.