LIST WORRIES OFFICIALS
victims of crime if crimes are not prosecuted. “Their voices need to be heard as well,” he said.
William Fitzpatrick, president of the National District Attorney’s Association, said, “I don’t think she’s properly taking into account the cost that criminals inflict on society even for minor crimes. Ignoring minor crimes leads to an increase in violent crimes.”
In a statement, Rollins told the Herald: “Estimates show that it costs roughly $50,000 per year to house an inmate in the Suffolk County House of Correction. The starting salary of an (assistant district attorney) is approximately $45,000 per year. Many of the cases that cycle through the district courts in Suffolk County are active for at least 6 to 12 months prior to any disposition. This is a costly financial proposition for the taxpayers of Massachusetts. Money is diverted from services to sentences.
“More important, there is a cost to society. The consequences of a criminal record are far more significant than many people realize. When someone spends even a single night in jail pre-trial they can lose their job — leading to a spiral of unintended consequences. If someone does end up with a CORI for a bad choice, it makes it significantly harder for them to obtain jobs or secure housing — often resulting in a downward spiral — everyone loses.
“If we are talking about petty theft, our first priority will always be to make sure the victim is made whole and receives restitution as quickly as possible for their lost goods or services. With respect to the individual accused of the offense, I propose considering tailored solutions — including restorative justice practices — that best serve everyone and truly make our communities safer.”
Mayor Martin J. Walsh told the Herald he isn’t concerned by Rollins’ decriminalization proposals, but said he “wants to make sure bad people aren’t doing bad things.”
“We’ll wait and see when she gets in there and see what she wants to do as a DA,” Walsh told the Herald yesterday. “I think that’s some of the stuff we’ll find out. I know what she said on the campaign trail, I think there’s going to be some of those concerns that people might have, I don’t want to make a deal out of them right now.”
Current Suffolk DA Dan Conley declined to comment.
Rollins will face Independent challenger Mike Maloney, a defense attorney, in November’s general election.