For the Defense - Vol. 9, Issue 3 - 24

AG Candidates
Respond to Questions on
Criminal Justice Reform and Equity
The Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL) has posed a series of critical and comprehensive questions to
both the Republican and Democratic Attorney General candidates seeking election this November. These questions delve into the
candidates' stances on a wide range of pivotal issues that profoundly impact the criminal justice system in Pennsylvania. PACDL
aims to uncover the candidates' perspectives and proposed policies on criminal justice reform, including their views on mandatory
minimum sentences, bail reform, and alternatives to incarceration.
Additionally, the questions address the candidates' strategies for tackling systemic inequities within the criminal justice system,
such as racial disparities and the treatment of marginalized communities. PACDL seeks to understand the candidates' commitment
to ensuring fair and equitable treatment for all individuals, regardless of background or socioeconomic status.
By posing these questions, PACDL aims to provide its members with a clear and detailed understanding of each candidate's
vision and priorities for the office of Attorney General.
Eugene DePasquale
For information about Eugene DePasquale, a Democratic candidate for Attorney General in Pennsylvania,
you can visit his campaign website, which outlines his background, platform, and key endorsements.
DePasquale has a long history in Pennsylvania politics, having served as the state's Auditor General from 2013
to 2020, where he established a reputation as an independent fiscal watchdog. For more comprehensive
details, you can check out his campaign website: DePasquale for Attorney General and explore his profile.
1. What are your primary goals if elected as Pennsylvania Attorney General, and how do you plan to
achieve them?
First and foremost, as Pennsylvania's next Attorney General, I will ensure that democracy and the rights
that we enjoy because of it are protected, no matter what. Protecting our Democracy is the greatest task
and potential crisis we face, and the Attorney General will be front and center on that issue. Without
democracy, I cannot hope to achieve my other goals. Next, I am committed to protecting the reproductive
freedoms of every Pennsylvanian. Reproductive freedoms are under attack across the country--from choosing not to carry a pregnancy to
term through abortion to choosing to have a family through IVF treatments. I believe Pennsylvanians should have the freedom to make those
decisions for themselves and I will use all the powers at my disposal to ensure that they do. Finally, corporate greed has gotten wildly out of hand
with " greed-flation " and the oligopolies that control everything, from access to baby formula to Taylor Swift tickets. As the People's Lawyer,
I will crack down on businesses and CEOs taking advantage of consumers, work to stop price gouging, and defend workers from wage theft.
2. How do you intend to ensure that those charged with crimes are treated fairly and justly within the legal system?
For far too long we have approached criminal justice with the belief that being " tough on crime " meant that we had to be tough on those
who commit crimes with little if any regard for the circumstances that led them into committing these acts. Recently, the Pennsylvania Attorney
General's office joined a coalition under the Office of Advocacy and Reform to develop a strategic plan that would bring Pennsylvania's systems
into the modern era. The coalition, HEAL PA (Healing Empowerment Advocacy Learning Prevention Action), seeks to further our understanding
for how trauma impacts our society and how our various government entities can work together to create trauma-informed systems. As Attorney
General, I am committed to continuing to be a part of this team and bringing knowledge about Adverse Childhood Experiences into our state's
approach to criminal justice.
When we treat the whole person, when we approach criminal justice holistically, we can ensure not only that justice is served in one instance
but that we set up a pathway to heal communities. I am also committed to applying innovative approaches to justice, where appropriate, like
restorative justice. As Attorney General, I will expect nothing less than fairness and an approach to justice that remembers that we are not
24 For The Defense l Vol. 9, Issue 3

https://www.depasqualeforag.com/

For the Defense - Vol. 9, Issue 3

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of For the Defense - Vol. 9, Issue 3