District Attorney and Sheriff, Ever Heard of Them?

It is no secret: California continues to waste enormous amounts of taxpayer money locking up far too many people for far too long who don’t need to be behind bars to keep the public safe. Ignoring our state’s addiction to incarceration is no longer an option. Lawmakers and elected officials need to look at long-term solutions that are fair, fiscally responsible, and keep our communities safe. District attorneys and sheriffs – both of whom are elected locally – hold the power to help California shift gears on criminal justice. The good news: this June, nearly every one of California’s 58 counties will hold elections for their district attorney and sheriff. The bad news: if history is our guide, most voters will fail to show up to the polls on Election Day. (#ElectionFail)

The ACLU of California seeks to change this unfortunate trend and shine a bright light on these critical races. After all, because they are elected officials, California’s district attorneys and sheriffs report to YOU!

Like the problems that plague California’s criminal justice system, the reasons for our historically low voter turnout are complicated and multifaceted. At the top of the list, however, is the reality that most voters don’t understand the role of the district attorney (DA) and sheriff in their community. The truth is, DAs and sheriffs hold two of the most powerful positions in our criminal justice system. The duty of the sheriff is to fairly enforce the law by apprehending individuals suspected of committing crime, as well as working to increase public safety by supervising crime prevention and rehabilitation efforts. The district attorney’s primary duty is to promote the safety of our communities by prosecuting those who are suspected of breaking the law. Both elected officials are responsible for serving the interests of all members of the community and enforcing the laws without prejudice, bias, or a political agenda.

A great deal of power and responsibility lies in the hands of DAs and sheriffs, and without involvement from voters, community organizations, opinion leaders and the media, the immense powers that we put in the hands of DAs and sheriffs will go unchecked.

You can help change this unfortunate trend by registering to vote, learning about the candidates running for office in your area, and, most importantly, pledging to vote for your DA and sheriff on June 3. If we want to see meaningful and lasting criminal justice reform in California, we must elect law enforcement officials who won’t just trot out the old “tough on crime” rhetoric, and instead support smart policies that increase public safety while promoting fairness and equality.

To learn more about the role of the DA and sheriff is your community, and for information about the candidates running for DA and sheriff in your county, please visit www.acluca.org/justice.

It’s time to close the revolving doors of California’s jails and prisons by electing DAs and sheriffs who will switch gears on criminal justice.

See you at the polls!

Ana Zamora is a Senior Policy Advocate with the ACLU of Northern California.