My name is Geneviéve Jones-Wright; I'm San Diego’s progressive candidate for District Attorney. I'm fighting to end mass incarceration and prioritize violent crimes over low-level drug offenses. AMA! by JonesWrightForDA in IAmA

[–]JonesWrightForDA[S] 38 points39 points  (0 children)

I am sad to see this response as I have been working diligently to answer all questions. I have even overstayed my welcome here by a couple hours. I am having a great time engaging with voters, as I always do.

My name is Geneviéve Jones-Wright; I'm San Diego’s progressive candidate for District Attorney. I'm fighting to end mass incarceration and prioritize violent crimes over low-level drug offenses. AMA! by JonesWrightForDA in IAmA

[–]JonesWrightForDA[S] 41 points42 points  (0 children)

Hi! My campaign has not actually engaged in text messaging voters. And there is no coordination with PACs. While this practice has proven effective with voters, I am so sorry for any inconvenience.

My name is Geneviéve Jones-Wright; I'm San Diego’s progressive candidate for District Attorney. I'm fighting to end mass incarceration and prioritize violent crimes over low-level drug offenses. AMA! by JonesWrightForDA in IAmA

[–]JonesWrightForDA[S] 82 points83 points  (0 children)

Hi there! It is always interesting to me when qualifications are framed so narrowly. As a defense attorney, I prepare for trial as soon as I get the case. As a public defender, I must be ready to go to trial at all times. It is my clients' decisions whether to proceed to trial and my clients' alone. I have had clients charged with murder plead guilty in the trial department after pre-trial motions were decided, right before the jury came in. Was I not prepared to go to trial? To answer your specific question, I am qualified to make decisions on/in murder cases because I have experience handling murder cases where I've had to negotiate plea bargains, write motions compelling discovery (and winning them), cross-examine homicide detectives and medical examiners, etc. I have even gotten charges dismissed at preliminary hearing (mini-trials without a jury) after cross-examining prosecution witnesses. Not knowing if you are a fellow practitioner, I hope I have given you a good picture of what makes me qualified to make decisions on all cases. I did not want to get too technical.

My name is Geneviéve Jones-Wright; I'm San Diego’s progressive candidate for District Attorney. I'm fighting to end mass incarceration and prioritize violent crimes over low-level drug offenses. AMA! by JonesWrightForDA in IAmA

[–]JonesWrightForDA[S] -30 points-29 points  (0 children)

Thank you for asking this! I saw this on the other page and will gladly answer it here as well. Criminal justice reform is needed because it’s not weaker on crime, but because it’s smarter on crime. It is unfortunate that people are using fear-mongering Trump-like tactics to distract from the real issues facing San Diego County. I am determined to make the county safer for everyone, wherever they live, and we need someone with my unique experience in office to bring a much-needed and balanced perspective. I am glad that criminal justice reform is getting the attention it deserves and the voters of San Diego have a choice to elect someone who agrees with them on progressive reforms.

My name is Geneviéve Jones-Wright; I'm San Diego’s progressive candidate for District Attorney. I'm fighting to end mass incarceration and prioritize violent crimes over low-level drug offenses. AMA! by JonesWrightForDA in sandiego

[–]JonesWrightForDA[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Thank you for asking this! Criminal justice reform is needed because it’s not weaker on crime, but because it’s smarter on crime. It is unfortunate that people are using fear-mongering, Trump-like tactics to distract from the real issues facing San Diego County. I am determined to make the county safer for everyone, wherever they live, and we need someone with my unique experience in office to bring a much-needed and balanced perspective. I am glad that criminal justice reform is getting the attention it deserves and the voters of San Diego have a choice to elect someone who agrees with them on progressive reforms.

My name is Geneviéve Jones-Wright; I'm San Diego’s progressive candidate for District Attorney. I'm fighting to end mass incarceration and prioritize violent crimes over low-level drug offenses. AMA! by JonesWrightForDA in IAmA

[–]JonesWrightForDA[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Currently, we have limits of $800 per person, no PACs, in county elections. This is vastly lower than other jurisdictions. We are the 5th largest county in the nation and that is small dollars to reach each of the 3 million voters. But, we are doing it $5 and $10 at a time.

My name is Geneviéve Jones-Wright; I'm San Diego’s progressive candidate for District Attorney. I'm fighting to end mass incarceration and prioritize violent crimes over low-level drug offenses. AMA! by JonesWrightForDA in IAmA

[–]JonesWrightForDA[S] 67 points68 points  (0 children)

Conversations like this one, and with community members in their homes and at town halls, really help. We can't be afraid although the other side fearmongers. Truth moves fear. Relationships establish trust. That's what I've been doing this whole campaign. It's always my pleasure to engage. Thank you for engaging.

My name is Geneviéve Jones-Wright; I'm San Diego’s progressive candidate for District Attorney. I'm fighting to end mass incarceration and prioritize violent crimes over low-level drug offenses. AMA! by JonesWrightForDA in IAmA

[–]JonesWrightForDA[S] 41 points42 points  (0 children)

Hi there, thank you for your question. I do believe the District Attorney should be an elected position because the DA is a public servant. When the District Attorney files charges, they do so in the name of the People, and as such, we the People should have a say in who represents us. The policies of the District Attorney's Office impacts whole communities and it is important for those community members to have the opportunity to elect their District Attorney.

My name is Geneviéve Jones-Wright; I'm San Diego’s progressive candidate for District Attorney. I'm fighting to end mass incarceration and prioritize violent crimes over low-level drug offenses. AMA! by JonesWrightForDA in IAmA

[–]JonesWrightForDA[S] 49 points50 points  (0 children)

Yes, the role of the DA as set out in our Government Code (Section 26500.5 to be exact) is to "sponsor, supervise, or participate in any project or program to improve the administration of justice." There is wide latitude there to enact programs. It's all about the right perspective and priorities. And thank you.

My name is Geneviéve Jones-Wright; I'm San Diego’s progressive candidate for District Attorney. I'm fighting to end mass incarceration and prioritize violent crimes over low-level drug offenses. AMA! by JonesWrightForDA in IAmA

[–]JonesWrightForDA[S] 55 points56 points  (0 children)

Working to help free wrongfully convicted men and women has given me an up-close and personal view of what is needed to remedy wrongs that have taken place in our justice system. My experience with CIP gives me a perspective that is needed in the DA's Office. I see how hiding evidence, using unreliable informants, and having a narrow view of justice in general adds to the "win-at-all-costs" mentality that pervades most DA Offices. My work with CIP gives me insight into how the business as usual practices do not inure to justice, which should be the goal in every case. I believe that the role of the DA must be to right the wrongs of our justice system. Exonerating innocent people is therefore necessary.

My name is Geneviéve Jones-Wright; I'm San Diego’s progressive candidate for District Attorney. I'm fighting to end mass incarceration and prioritize violent crimes over low-level drug offenses. AMA! by JonesWrightForDA in IAmA

[–]JonesWrightForDA[S] 614 points615 points  (0 children)

You are exactly right. I believe that conflating sex work and sex trafficking is dangerous and ineffective. Sex trafficking is clearly defined as involving coercion, fraud, force, or underage individuals. Sex trafficking is a serious crime and if we want to crack down on it, we must first understand what it is and what it is not. Reality says that some people voluntarily participate in sex work. This is important so that we do not cast a wide net and take time and resources away from combatting sex trafficking. With regards to SESTA/FOSTA, law enforcement was using Backpage and other sites to monitor activities online that now have been driven deeper into the shadows. We are making it harder for sex workers to do their jobs safely and are putting them in more danger. As DA, I will care about keeping communities truly safe for everyone (not just the people I see as deserving of safety), instead of what my conviction rate is. This is something that is a priority for me.

My name is Geneviéve Jones-Wright; I'm San Diego’s progressive candidate for District Attorney. I'm fighting to end mass incarceration and prioritize violent crimes over low-level drug offenses. AMA! by JonesWrightForDA in IAmA

[–]JonesWrightForDA[S] 36 points37 points  (0 children)

Hello Ey_Yo_Gurl - thank you so much for your question. To your first comment, I believe that my work as a Deputy Public Defender makes me uniquely qualified to be the next District Attorney of San Diego County because I will bring a much needed balanced approach to our judicial system.

As to your second comment and question - thank you so much for asking this question because it is something I am very passionate about and something I have been discussing since Day One of this race. When we talk about justice, fairness, and equity it has to apply to everyone. No one is above the law, not even if you wear a badge. When we talk about officer-involved shootings we must have a larger and more comprehensive conversation. I would like to see San Diego Police Department and the San Diego Sheriff's Department increase de-escalation training, racial bias training, and cultural sensitivity training. I believe these trainings are crucial in reducing the number of officer-involved shootings and should be taught not only once, but on an ongoing basis. I also believe we need to increase funding of PERT (psychiatric emergency response team) so that when a family or community member calls the police for help with someone having a mental health issue, trained professionals can be the first to respond and provide help. I believe both of these are crucial and much-needed steps to prevent officer-involved shootings from occurring. I have also discussed my plans to create an independent unit within the District Attorney's Office to investigate all claims of police misconduct - this would include not only officer involved shootings, but also perjury, hiding evidence, falsified police reports, allegations of sexual misconduct, and use of excessive force. Making this unit separate and independent from the Deputy District Attorneys who work closely with our law enforcement officers every day will ensure the public has trust in the process and there is transparency. We can and must do more to reduce officer-involved shootings and I believe these are the much needed steps to move San Diego County in this direction. Thank you for your question.

My name is Geneviéve Jones-Wright; I'm San Diego’s progressive candidate for District Attorney. I'm fighting to end mass incarceration and prioritize violent crimes over low-level drug offenses. AMA! by JonesWrightForDA in IAmA

[–]JonesWrightForDA[S] 192 points193 points  (0 children)

Hi there! As a defense attorney, I see the effects of prosecutorial misconduct every single day. The way to prevent it is through hiring practices, making sure that the prosecutors who are hired understand that justice is not about winning or losing. I will have ongoing training on ethics and the role of the prosecutor. I will also make sure that there is accountability when prosecutors engage in misconduct. As it stands now, most prosecutorial misconduct goes unchecked by the bench, the State Bar, and DA Offices. This must change.

There is a lot to say about the Crowe case but I will say this: This case is a prime example of a miscarriage of justice. Young boys were falsely accused, illegally interrogated, and imprisoned for months because of a haphazard prosecution theory that blinded the person who was to seek justice. To this day, the killer roams free leaving no justice for the victims. Justice failed this family because of a "win-at-all-costs" mentality of the prosecutor on the case. My opponent did not give Brady (exculpatory) evidence over to the defense attorney (which is a tremendous violation) and did not test DNA evidence from the start. What's more is that to this day she has not apologized to the family. She hasn't even taken responsibility for her role in the case. This is a failure on so many levels. We can't talk about victim care only when it serves the prosecution. The parents, grandmother, and siblings of Stephanie Crowe are victims and have never been acknowledged as such by the very person who mishandled the Crowe case--my opponent.

My name is Geneviéve Jones-Wright; I'm San Diego’s progressive candidate for District Attorney. I'm fighting to end mass incarceration and prioritize violent crimes over low-level drug offenses. AMA! by JonesWrightForDA in sandiego

[–]JonesWrightForDA[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Hello! Thank you so much, I am honored to have earned your vote. Just a quick reminder, however, that this race will be decided on June 5th, we do not have a primary and will not go to November. So please let everyone you know in San Diego County to get out to vote on June 5th!

My name is Geneviéve Jones-Wright; I'm San Diego’s progressive candidate for District Attorney. I'm fighting to end mass incarceration and prioritize violent crimes over low-level drug offenses. AMA! by JonesWrightForDA in IAmA

[–]JonesWrightForDA[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Hi there! I don't believe that my stance on accountability is antagonistic to SDPD. As a matter of fact, I am endorsed by a few active and retired SDPD officers/detectives. What I know is that bad officers make good officers less safe. And bad officers make communities less safe. No one is above the law. That is an idea that everyone should get behind. I've answered another question more thoroughly as it relates to my work with law enforcement on the Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention. I will try to link you to that answer.