DUGAN CALLS FOR MORE COLLABORATIVE, PREVENTATIVE APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY

Allegheny

COUNTY’S Chief Public Defender Matt Dugan last week announced his intention to challenge District Attorney Stephen Zappala in the Democratic primary this spring.

In particular, Dugan says he wants to focus the county’s resources on “competently prosecuting violent crime,” and he plans to do so, in part, by implementing “true diversion” programs that redirect those with low-level, nonviolent charges away from the criminal legal system.

Although Zappala has touted the establishment of specialty courts for cases involving drugs, mental health, and veterans as successful diversion efforts, Dugan says these do not amount to “true diversion.”

“There’s an opportunity to get in front of this, to be more proactive, to focus more on prevention than to be reactive and focus on punishment.” •