DISTRICT ATTORNEY

2020 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Instituted a series of principles regarding the role of a prosecutor in society and continued to implement comprehensive criminal justice reform initiatives including programs to proliferate a Continuum of Care to support participants within the criminal justice system and for those in need. Met with numerous criminal justice reform organizations to discuss incarceration alternatives, other criminal justice reforms, and mental health services for participants within the criminal justice system. • Collaborated with the Orange County Superior Court, the Public Defender’s Office and the Sheriff’s Department to ensure court operations continued without interruption during the COVID-19 pandemic. OCDA prosecutors tried 255 trials in 2020, including 124 trials during the first nine months of the pandemic. Orange County finished its 100th trial before many counties had even tried their first case during the pandemic. • Continued a collaborative partnership with the Orange County Gang Reduction and Intervention Program (GRIP) to empower children in 60 Orange County schools to improve their academic performance, attendance and behavior, and reward their efforts with a gift card to buy a Thanksgiving meal for their families. These efforts were even more critical when students were distance learning during the pandemic. GRIP mentors continued to meet with students virtually to ensure their support system continued even if they couldn’t meet in person. • The OCDA’s Office continued to vigorously prosecute hate crimes and work with law enforcement to train officers on how to more effectively investigate hate incidents and hate crimes in order to successfully prosecute these cases. The DA’s Office prosecuted twice the number of hate crimes from 2019 and 2020 compared to the prior 25 years.

2021 GOALS

• Continue to engage in the overall discussion, process and development of comprehensive criminal justice reform initiatives. • Support and collaborate with government and community partners to provide incarceration alternatives that emphasize a Continuum of Care such as mental health, medical care and substance abuse solutions for participants within the criminal justice system. This includes developing a program through which prosecutors can identify participants that require mental health solutions prior to or early in the case management process and proactively address their needs through collaborative relationships with other government partners. • Partner with community-based organizations such as Be Well OC to provide housing, substance abuse, medical care and mental health programs to those in need and those experiencing homelessness. • Support legislation that provides participants within the criminal justice system and those in need with necessities such as housing, mental health services, medical care and other services or programs that will allow them an opportunity to thrive.