DA endorsement questionaire: Daniel P. McElhatton

Name: Daniel P. McElhatton
Office Sought: District Attorney
Campaign website: http://www.votemcelhatton.com
Contact person: Anthony Ingargiola
Email: anthony@votemcelhatton.com
Phone: 215-557-0819

1) If elected, what will be your top priorities?  Specifically, how will you make Philadelphia’s criminal justice system work better and, if possible, more efficiently?

I have attached position papers on what I believe are the most important issues facing the District Attorney’s office and how I plan to address those issues.
(Position papers available on candidate's website)

The District Attorney’s Office is part of the larger criminal justice continuum. It is important to develop partnerships at every possible juncture. While the District Attorney’s Office will be looking for partners to work with on budget and personnel issues, collaboration goes beyond that. Through mechanisms such as a Criminal Justice Advisory Board or CrimeStat, I will encourage and support the exchange of data, best practices and strategies in order to improve law enforcement and criminal prosecution.

Additionally, a comprehensive upgrade to the technology in the District Attorney’s Office is an important part of my agenda.  I will seek funding from public, private and foundation sources to achieve this goal.

These changes will benefit all witnesses and victims.  I will create a system for email and text notification to all parties scheduled to appear in court.  This will minimize inconvenience and can bring significant cost savings to the entire system.

2) Do you support the death penalty?  If so, what would be your criteria for seeking it?

The death penalty is the law.  All cases that qualify for the death penalty will be reviewed accordingly.  Each case will be evaluated on its own.  There is a need to create a longer period of time for the initial decision to seek the death penalty that will allow for greater information to be made available to assist in the decision.  I will implement periodic reviews of the death penalty and how it is being applied and how it has been applied in the past.

3) What steps do you support to help reduce gun violence in Philadelphia?

I believe we need vigorous enforcement of all current weapons laws, and particularly prosecutions of “straw purchasers.” There should be additional coordination with state and federal law enforcement. That is imperative if we are to reduce/choke off the flow of illegal guns into our city. One additional function that the DA can fill is to vigorously lobby in Harrisburg for the appropriate legislation that will assist in reducing gun violence, such as one gun a month and requiring that lost or stolen guns be reported immediately.

4) What steps do you support to help reduce overcrowding in Philadelphia’s prisons?

While the District Attorney’s office does not run the prison system, it is part of the larger criminal justice continuum.  As District Attorney I will work with the Criminal Justice Advisory Board to address the issue of prison overcrowding.  We have to balance the public safety, social services and social justice needs of the city, all while operating under severe budget constraints.

5) Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for first-time non-violent drug crimes, such as marijuana possession?

I do not support mandatory minimum sentences for first-time, non-violent drug crimes.  However, I do believe alternative sentences for minor crimes should be sought more often.  In regards to drug possession (as opposed to possession with intent to deliver), it depends upon the circumstance and background of offender.  Each situation will have to be reviewed on a case-to-case basis.  Are there prior arrests?; are there other open cases?  The particulars of each case will have to be viewed on its own.

6) Crime results from poverty, and lack of jobs and educational opportunity.  Summarize briefly how you think the District Attorney’s office should fit in Philadelphia’s crime prevention efforts, including youth programs and re-entry programs for ex-offenders.

We should move quickly to make the case for the concept of Community Courts as a method of long-lasting crime prevention and deterrence.  As District Attorney my goal will be to form a genuine partnership with the neighborhoods where these Courts are established, to respond to the unique circumstances of the individual communities and to impose immediate, meaningful sanctions on offenders who can be restored to a contributing member of the community. These efforts can create an atmosphere of inclusion and responsibility for the offender with respect to maintaining the quality of life in their community.  Where successfully implemented, these courts lead to enhancing the resident’s sense of community and engagement.

7) What steps do you support to protect women in Philadelphia from discrimination and abuse?

As District Attorney it is my duty to protect all the residents of this city. I will have a zero tolerance policy in regards to abuse towards women. The laws on assault will be enforced. If these laws need to be expanded or improved upon, I will do my duty as District Attorney to push that agenda. The DA should use the “bully pulpit” of publicity to create a climate where there is no tolerance for such conduct.

8) What steps do you support to protect the LGBT community from discrimination and abuse?

As with any incident of violence, abuse or discrimination that occurs in the City, I will have a zero tolerance policy towards abuse against a member of the LGBT community and will use my position as DA to fight to improve upon existing legal protections when necessary. In addition, I fully recognize that there are concerns of the LGBT community that are unique, and I have proposed the creation of a group of community, civic, business and labor leaders to meet with the DA regularly to raise these concerns.

9) Philly For Change supports reform in government.  How can the District Attorney’s office discourage corruption and promote transparency in government?

I advocated for these types of reforms as Vice Chair of the Board of Ethics. I helped craft some of the legislation and testified in City Council in support of these Ordinances. Recent history and headlines have illustrated the need to have a specialized corps of attorneys, investigators and other professionals to handle the issues of Political Corruption. The City has been tainted by corruption for far too long and in far too many areas. The recent Ethics legislation will go a long way to educate and inform people of their obligations under the various codes and ordinances. However, there are still activities that blatantly violate the law and need vigorous and impartial prosecution. The District Attorney’s Office will establish a “whistleblower” hotline for the reporting of criminal activity of municipal employees and those companies doing business with the City. As a former Vice Chair of the City Board of Ethics, I am well aware of the challenges in this area.

10)  Philly for Change supports candidates who share our members’ ideals; however, we have limited resources.  To maximize our effectiveness, tell us how—should you receive our endorsement—we can help you win.

Your membership is your most valuable resource. Your help in contacting potential voters, getting out the vote and promoting me as a candidate is potentially more valuable than any financial support. Your energized and informed membership can be an integral part of my campaign towards victory. Committed advocates for good government are an extremely valuable resource.