Carlos Vega is running for District Attorney of Philadelphia to restore order to the office and bring integrity back to the criminal justice system -- and provide real reforms that will stop the spiking violent crime, while also pursuing justice for Philadelphians.
PUT PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST
I’ve been a prosecutor for over 35 years on the front lines for our City. Our City needs a leader who will take drastic actions to address our gun violence problem like the public health epidemic it truly is. I will stand with you and treat the position of District Attorney with the respect it deserves. Here is my 9 point plan to make us safer from gun violence:
1. BUILD NEW BRIDGES WITH THE COMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
There were 1,180 homicides, and over 8,600 shootings in Philadelphia the past three years while the District Attorney’s office and the police department were at odds instead of keeping us safe. The wheels of justice can only turn if communities, law enforcement, and District Attorney’s work together. We can make progress on criminal justice reform while respecting the professionals in law enforcement. Philadelphia’s gun violence crisis demands officers of the court put the victims above egos.
2. ADDRESS RACISM AND UNFAIR PRACTICES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
There is no one size fits all approach to ending racism in Philadelphia, but the District Attorney’s office can be a leader on civil rights while protecting our city from crime. Under my administration, the District Attorney’s office will be completely transparent on case outcomes and charging decisions, in order to further our efforts to create a fair criminal justice system for people of all colors.
3. CREATE A JOB-FOCUSED RE-ENTRY PROGRAM
Coming back from prison and having a criminal record limits the opportunities of the men and women rejoining our community. The District Attorney’s Office and Probation Department can incentivize returning community members to make changes in their lives and make something of themselves. This can be done with my Learn and Earn program.
As a 35-year career public servant, as a father, and as a human being, I believe strongly that those who have been involved in the cyclical pattern of the criminal justice system have access to greater incentives for rehabilitation. Probationers who take parenting classes, anger management classes, drug counseling, GED programs, go back to school part-time or full time, and most importantly, obtain an on the books, tax-paying employment will have the probation shortened with a day for day credit. As they triumph in each challenge, the probationer will be eligible for a shortening of their probationary period. Achieving success, and getting the benefit for these achievements, helps give a person a sense of pride and restores personal dignity. Their hard work will produce great rewards for them, their families and the community.
4. SUPPORT COMMUNITY GROUPS, CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS
There are thousands of Philadelphians working every day to make a difference in their neighborhood, whether they are violence interrupters, youth coaches, pastors, teachers or mentors. We need all these people, with unique skills and insights, to reach the youth before the bad decisions lead to dangerous and criminal behavior. I will make the District Attorney’s Office Community Relations Unit the central hub to connect the community organizations with the governmental, businesses and non-profits with resources. I will merge the Community Relations Unit with the Data component of the office to track the programs and scientifically determine what works and what doesn’t, while making sure the efforts of different community organizations do not miss youth in need of assistance.
5. FULLY IMPLEMENT OUR VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM
We cannot arrest our way out of the violence problem in Philadelphia and our children deserve the chance to grow up in violence free neighborhoods. Community members, law enforcement officials, and social service providers need to work together with groups of individuals committing crimes to disrupt the cycle of violence. A strategy of disrupting this group dynamic, which promotes violence as an acceptable method of addressing real and perceived displays of disrespect from others, will stop a large volume of the shootings. Those that stop, and want a way out, will find a helping hand from the law enforcement officials, social service providers, and community members involved in the program.
6. STOP WITHDRAWING GUN CASES AND PLEADING OUT SHOOTING CASES
Over the past three years, the current administration has failed miserably to prosecute violent crime. Too many people arrested for shooting a firearm never face a jury. A District Attorney that withdraws 50% of gun cases, like the current one, has abdicated his responsibility to the people of this city. I will assign experienced prosecutors to handle these cases in a responsible way to make sure we are removing the few violent offenders from our communities so both the perpetrator and the community can heal.
7. STOP THE FLOW OF GUNS THROUGH STRAW PURCHASERS AND IRRESPONSIBLE GUN SELLERS
The Philadelphia Police Department has made a record number of gun arrests in 2019 and then surpassed that in 2020. Yet, there are more guns and more deaths than ever. The time for action is now, while the call for common sense gun reform continues. There are laws on the books to slow down the availability of illegal firearms and I will enforce them. I will also form a coalition of bi-partisan District Attorneys to lobby state lawmakers to pass laws like safe storage requirements and extreme risk laws to help those at-risk of harming themselves or others.
8. HIRE EXPERIENCED PROSECUTORS & TRAIN YOUNG PROSECUTORS
As District Attorney, I will focus on hiring experienced attorneys, while simultaneously creating a thorough training program that emphasizes fairness and ethical prosecution. The stakes are too high for the victims of crime, to send attorneys that are unprepared and undertrained to court to prosecute violent crime.
9. CREATE THE COLD CASE AND VIOLENT CRIME INVESTIGATORY TASK FORCE
There are grieving families behind every unsolved homicide in Philadelphia. All of them deserve justice. Inter-agency cooperation is essential to solve “cold case” murders and prosecute the worst offenders driving the violence I will establish an inter-agency task force to try to find peace for victims.
RESPECT VICTIMS OF CRIME
Victims cannot be left in the dark. I will institute a policy of mandatory communication with all crime victims, co-victims and families of murder victims. We must respect victims and ensure they receive notification of all important court dates. The District Attorney’s Office must embrace the culture that District Attorneys are the “voice of the victim.” The current administration overlooks victims and treats them as an “inconvenient reality.”
STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING
The sad reality is that our children are forced into prostitution by predators for profit. Many of them are addicted to drugs. The court system should use the full weight of its power to stop the predators who exploit these vulnerable people. I will implement a program to provide victims with parenting, life and educational skills as well as drug counseling that will help these individuals become themselves again and become productive citizens.
PROTECT SMALL BUSINESSES
Peaceful protest is necessary for our democracy to function, but we must hold those who use justice as a veil to commit looting accountable. Our small businesses are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic and they must be sheltered from looters.
ADOPT A SCHOOL
I will institute a program where each unit will adopt a grammar, middle or high school. The program will have attorneys from all the units in the office adopt a school and visit the school at least twice a month in order to be visible to the community while also developing relationships with faculty, children and parents. The building of these bridges will bear fruit in the future as kids grow into adults with a real understanding and appreciation of the people who work in the criminal justice system in Philadelphia.