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THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S ROLE

The DA is an elected official of a parish whose responsibility is to prosecute crimes. They hold an immense amount of power in the courts, and because of that their elections draw a lot of attention from the voting public and the media alike. Here are just some of the things a DA does:

  1. Determines whether charges will be filed or dismissed against an individual.
  2. Determines whether or not the state will seek bail.
  3. Has the power to offer alternatives to incarceration, such as rehabilitation programs.

We ask that our future DA:
  • Incarcerate as a last resort, not a first option.
  • Center survivors, trust advocates, and train for trauma.
  • Hold police and prosecutors accountable
  • Not charge kids as adults. End the criminalization of Black youth by ensuring that Black children are not disproportionately penalized for normal adolescent behaviors and by pursing policies that address racial disparities in the legal system.
  • Seek care over cages. Allow for restorative justice in lieu of prosecution in any case where both the survivor and accused party have provided their informed consent to such a process.
  • Acknowledge that traditional prosecutorial practices and culture have been major contributors to racial disparities in case outcomes and incarceration rates.


WHAT IS A RUNOFF ELECTION?

A runoff election is a second election which is held when no candidate in the first election has met the required threshold for victory. In Louisiana, that threshold is 50% + 1 vote.

Runoff elections were created at the beginning of the 20th century by the white Democratic Party. Their goal was to maintain control over Southern politics by manipulating election rules.

At the time, Black folks were disenfranchised by poll taxes, literacy tests, and general voter intimidation.

Runoffs were a way to further disenfranchise voters, since only the most committed and ideologically-driven voters showed up to vote twice. (Source: Washington Post)

The candidates and propositions you'll vote for on your runoff ballot have a direct and substantial impact on your neighborhood and community.