One of my priorities as district attorney will be to increase the dialogue with communities affected by crime. I have had the privilege of serving as District Attorney Mark Mastroianni’s liaison to the Forest Park neighborhood in Springfield. I would like to expand on this practice and create a Community Impact Team, in which prosecutors periodically hold public meetings in interested communities. At these meetings, concerned residents can have direct access to members of my office. This way community concerns can be expressed and plans to address them can be discussed.

Prosecutors would use information gained from these Community Impact Team meetings to tailor investigations and prosecutions to have a positive impact on the quality of life for the residents of Hampden County. In court, the prosecution is referred to as “the Commonwealth” because we represent the people of Massachusetts. These Community Impact Team meetings will allow the people’s voice to be heard in court.