ITS TIME FOR CHANGE AND THIS IS HOW I INTEND TO DO IT!

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Safety and security in our community is the top priority of mine. With at least three generations of my  family calling Branch County home, I have a vested interest in making Branch County safe for your family and mine. 

As a community, we are at a crossroads in the fight against crime and substance use and abuse. Nationwide, there is a strong push to minimize criminal sanctions, reduce bond, increase pretrial release, and reduce overall rates of incarceration. Each of the aforementioned comes at the expense of the safety of our community and justice for victims of crime. 

Branch County needs a prosecutor who will push back against the pressures to minimize criminal sanctions and who will fight for the safety and security of our community. If elected prosecutor, I will continue to fight for the rights of victims and the safety and security of our community. 

 Every year, millions of people become unwilling victims of crime. Being a victim of crime oftentimes leaves a person feeling angry, confused, scared, and vulnerable. During the time of vulnerability and confusion, many victims wonder what rights they have. 

Michigan law grants victims of crime numerous rights, such as the right to be treated with fairness and respect for their dignity and privacy, be notified of all proceedings in the case, attend all court proceedings, reasonable protection from the defendant throughout the criminal justice process, the right to consult with the Prosecuting Attorney about the disposition of the case, and restitution. I take these rights seriously. 

During my tenure as Chief-Assistant Prosecutor, I have made it a priority of mine to involve victims of crime early in the prosecution of a case and to understand their perspective of the case. If elected, I will continue to build an atmosphere in my office that allows the victim of a crime to have a strong voice in the prosecution of a case. I believe that by involving the victim at an early stage of prosecution and treating each victim with respect and professionalism, we can forge a path forward that serves justice for the victim and community. 

Our community is in a battle against substance use and substance abuse. Statistics show that over 25% of crimes committed nationwide are committed to obtain drugs or money to buy drugs. Over half of the prison population in our Country has a substance use disorder. 

During my time as Chief-Assistant Prosecutor, I have been working with local treatment facilities to start a sobriety program aimed at rehabilitating non-violent first-time drug offenders. As part of the program, participants are required to complete extensive treatment  (the cost of which is paid by the Participant, oftentimes by grant funding, insurance, or medicaid), obtain employment, and complete their high school education. 

If elected, I will continue to build the Sobriety Program with the goal of reducing substance abuse and the crime that often times goes with it. For more information, please check out my blog!