Every day, prosecutors use their vast discretion to decide who will be charged with a crime and how felony it will be. Unfortunately, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) has used its powers to create a legacy of demanding harsh convictions and excessive sentences for low-level crimes. In fact, Arizona’s prison population has grown by 60% in 20 years. Decrease in actual crime — and Maricopa County top prisoner.
A county attorney’s job is to seek justice, but more convictions and longer sentences are rarely the answer. Studies consistently show Higher incarceration rates do not reduce violent crime and may actually make communities less safe.
This year, voters have the opportunity to elect someone who will reverse, rather than perpetuate, this legacy of mass incarceration. That is why our organization focuses on educating voters so that candidates understand their positions on important issues. Here’s how the incoming Maricopa County Attorney can prioritize smart justice and ensure everyone in the community is treated fairly.
Protecting doctors who provide life-saving abortion care from crime
ambient uncertainty Arizona abortion ban It causes confusion and distress, especially for doctors and those in need of care. Already, people are having to leave the state to get abortion care, forcing doctors to temporarily close outpatient clinics soon.
people who are refuse abortion They are more likely to experience poverty, struggle to secure food and housing, and are more likely to stay in touch with abusive partners. If incoming county attorneys truly want to put safety first, they promise to use their prosecutorial discretion to keep abortion providers out of prison and continue to provide essential life-saving care.
Prioritize marijuana eradication so that outdated fees do not prevent people from accessing jobs and housing
MCAO had a good reputation to prosecute aggressively Until voters legalize marijuana in 2020, people were being executed for marijuana possession. These sentences are linked to felonies, making it very difficult for those convicted to secure stable housing, get a job, and access basic services.
When voters passed Proposition 207, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office took steps to clear marijuana convictions. But it still has a long way to go to overturn decades of harsh prosecutions. ruined too many livesThe next county attorney can right this wrong and process more expungement petitions to help hard-working people get back on their feet.
Making sentencing data and policies transparent to improve accountability
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office’s extreme policies and biased sentencing practices have shattered the trust of many.and Data already published MCAO’s history of prosecuting people differently depending on their skin color and zip code.
Everyone deserves a fair trial and a fair sentence, but some people get different sentences for the same crime because of how they look, where they live, or how much money they have.
County attorneys are accountable to voters just like any other elected official. Publishing all of the office’s sentencing data and decisions to increase transparency is an important step to ensure prosecutors are treating people fairly.
Voters can elect county attorneys who seek true justice
imprison more people for longer does not prevent crime Or improve safety. County attorneys can use their powers to seek justice without relying on undue convictions or criminalizing people’s medical decisions, their professions, or the communities in which they live.
Maricopa County voters should learn each candidate’s position on these key issues and determine whether their position aligns with the needs of their community. Only then will we see true justice in the criminal justice system and throughout the county.
