Criminal justice REFORM

The United States incarcerates more people than any other nation on earth, yet we rank 117th on the Global Peace Index (which measures, among other things, safety.)

Mass incarceration isn’t making us safer. The time is now for reform.

Learn more about how prosecutors across the country are wielding their power to reform our criminal and juvenile justice systems.

Read the 21 Principles for the 21st Century Prosecutor report by Fair and Just Prosecution and the Brennan Center.

The Polk County Attorney’s Office has limited resources. Instead of wasting them on prosecuting low level, non-violent offenses, like marijuana possession, we should be focusing resources on things that actually make us less safe, like prosecuting violent crime and sexual assault.

No child is disposable. As Polk County Attorney, my office will not be waiving juveniles to adult court. According to a 2021 analysis by the Iowa Sentencing Project, Iowa detains Black youth at the highest national rate.

Under my direction, the office will put a greater emphasis on diversion programs and early intervention.

Cash bail destabilizes communities. People without resources who aren't a threat to the community sit in jail because they can't make bail, losing their jobs, housing, or pleading to crimes they aren't guilty of in order to get out.

As Polk County Attorney, it will be the presumption of my office to not request cash bail for people who are not a violent threat to the community.

Under my leadership, the Polk County Attorney’s Office will track data surrounding charging, sentencing, and plea deals. This information will be released publicly on a regular basis.

The office will also respond to public records requests in a timely manner.

Under my leadership, the office will end the practice of overcharging. We will also be end the “trial penalty”, where prosecutors threaten harsher outcomes if a defendant refuses to take a plea deal but is found guilty at trial. The right to a trial is enshrined in our Constitution. No one shouldn’t be penalized for exercising that right.

Under my leadership, the office will be committed to a high standard of ethics. All evidence will be turned over to the defense in a timely manner and prosecutorial misconduct will not be tolerated.

As Polk County Attorney, my office will establish a Conviction Integrity Unit to review previous prosecutions and help free wrongfully convicted individuals.

Your income shouldn’t determine your experience with the criminal justice system. As Polk County Attorney, I will work to eliminate income disparities whenever possible and end the criminalization of poverty.

As Polk County Attorney, my office will create a unit to investigate and prosecute wage theft.

Companies should not get away with stealing from employees.

People of Color are overrepresented in our criminal and juvenile justice system at every level.

As Polk County Attorney, my office will track and eliminate racial disparities within our criminal and juvenile justice systems.

The Polk County Attorney is an elected, public service position.

Under my leadership, the office will prioritize community input, outreach and engagement.

I am accountable to you.

People who struggle with mental illness and/or addiction wind up in the criminal justice system more than they should. As a result, America’s largest treatment facilities are not hospitals, but jails and prisons.

Mental illness and drug addiction are public health issues. We should endeavor to offer meaningful treatment and support whenever possible.

LGBTQ+ individuals are incarcerated at disproportionately higher rates compared to the general population.

As Polk County Attorney, my office will track and eliminate these disparities within our criminal and juvenile justice systems.