Nassau County District Attorney
Description:
Candidates (choose 1):
Francis X. McQuade
Party: REP, TRP, LBT
Biographical Info:
Campaign Phone: (516) 670-9359
Campaign Web Site: https://fxmcquade.com
Campaign Email: da2019@fxmcquade.com
City/Town of Residence: Long Beach
Prior Civic Service: -Beach to Bay Central Council of Civic Associations -Long Beach Island Landmark Association – Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) – Long Beach School District, Member, Budget Advisory Committee – Westholme Central Neighborhood Block Association, Long Beach – Long Island Federalist Society – Hispanic Counseling Center – Hispanic Advisory Board – Haitian Community Association of New York – Father’s Rights Association of New York – Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights – Long Beach Island Neighborhood Advisory Council
Questions:
Q: What are you doing, or would you do, to address the opioid epidemic on Long Island?
A: I support the new plan for detoxification of opioid overdose patients. This plan will allow two Nassau County hospitals to be linked to residential treatment facilities where patients who OD can detox and move to long-term residential assistance aimed at preventing relapses. My vision in gaining ground against the opioid epidemic can be broken down to three main points: 1. Relentless prosecution against opioid dealers, including focused investigation in the hopes of bringing on prosecution against criminal gangs, known to be major movers of fentanyl which has been a catalyst in opioid-related deaths. 2. Seeking prosecution against pharmaceutical wholesalers involved in illegal/negligent distribution of opioids. 3. Holding doctors accountable for gross negligence while dealing medically prescribed opioids. The vigorous prosecution of dealers and gang-traffickers is common sense. The criminal prosecution of physicians and pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors is more challenging legally (such as liability and culpability issues when dealing with stakeholders and stockholders as well as the difficulty in narrowing down accountability.) Nevertheless, the prosecution of physicians and manufacturers should be considered the new battle ground in addressing opioid abuse in the county. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan filed their first criminal drug distribution charges against a pharmaceutical wholesaler. A similar action in the State Supreme Court in Suffolk County is under way. I also support the promotion of Narcan training by Police, fire departments and civic organizations such as C.E.R.T. for the training they provide.
Q: What’s your position on alternative courts? Do they work? Do we need more alternative courts, and, if so, for what offenses?
A: I support alternative courts. Studies have shown that such courts can reduce recidivism rates. Drug court graduates have fewer relapses than offenders simply given probation or prison time. Furthermore, the turn toward “problem-solving courts,” seems part of a larger change in the criminal justice system which trends toward treatment rather than retribution. Prison is expensive for taxpayers and the environment is not conducive to recovery. In alternative courts, defendants are closely monitored, required to undergo frequent drug testing and may attend an intensive treatment program, counseling or group therapy. Offenders are assigned a team which includes a probation officer, a social worker and a drug counselor. The group addresses treatment needs, housing, employment and family reunification. Finally, when offenders show themselves to be stable and clean, they move out of the program; however if they do not meet obligations, miss meetings or test positive for drug use, they can be subject to sanctions like community service, extra group counseling sessions or even serve jail time. I would be open to alternative courts in any range of areas, such as: Drug Courts Mental Health Courts Truancy Courts Domestic Violence Courts Child Support Courts, Community Courts Reentry Courts Prostitution Courts Homelessness Courts Sex Offender Courts Parole Violation Courts DUI Courts Gun Courts
Q: What are the best ways for law enforcement to connect with all Nassau County communities and help ensure that they feel safe?
A: In today’s news cycle, we are constantly hearing stories about police brutality or targeted violence against the police. There has become a polarized view of law enforcement these days which is unfortunate considering they are civil servants whose duty it is to protect us all. While I do not believe it is right to silence criticism, it is important to promote the positive values of our law enforcement and have individuals accountable for their own negative actions while in uniform. As District Attorney, the best thing I can do personally is maintain a corrupt free office. We need the public to trust those who interpret the law meant to protect them. Recognizing law enforcement for valiant efforts is also important in reminding the community there is a perpetual battle against wrongdoing which is being addressed by the police on a daily basis. In regard to making a connection, I would promote community programs which involve law enforcement and educate the community in that area, such as the National Night Out where citizens and police essentially enjoy a mixer in their local community. Also, I would utilize social media unlike the current administration. Transparency in ideas and direction will allow for public input and collaboration. I also support the concept of Community Policing. Community policing utilizes new relationships developed in the community to stay ahead of crime problems. They walk the beat, meet with neighborhood watch organizations, handle citizen complaints, enforce laws against prostitution, littering, vandalism, and intoxication and address community concerns about social disorder.
Q: School shootings are on the mind of every parent. What needs to be done in Nassau County to keep our schools safe?
A: School shootings are acts of violence motivated by the troubles of a young individual. Violent crimes overall have dropped, however there has been a recent uptick in gun violence as well as school shootings. People don’t understand this is more of a social issue than a practical one. Gun laws have only gotten tighter over the years, and as you can see in cities like Chicago who have the strictest gun laws in the country, they don’t work. The best way to combat this “trending kill method,” would be to focus on the education of conflict resolution for troubled/questionable individuals and being sure that all schools have a near flawless protocol in physical protection. The educational portion can be accomplished through after school programs for individuals who are bullied or seek an outlet to vent their issues and feel heard out. Another educational tool could be having law enforcement come into these schools and discuss the sad life of a criminal and give examples of those who made better decision in order to improve their life. In regard to protocol for the schools, they need to make sure every individual who enters the building is identified. There needs to be some sort of premeditated response to any shooting or acts of violence which will protect as many individuals as possible in an efficient manner. There also should be consideration in having concealed armed guards in or around school grounds.
Q: Studies show racial disparities in drug law enforcement, despite the fact that white people and people of color use and sell drugs at the same rate. What would you do to minimize these disparities?
Madeline Singas
Party: DEM, CON, WFP
Biographical Info:
Campaign Phone: (813) 957-8309
Campaign Web Site: https://madelinesingas.com
Campaign Email: info@madelinesingas.com
City/Town of Residence: Nassau County
Prior Civic Service: I am a career prosecutor and was acting Nassau County District Attorney before my election four years ago.
Questions:
Q: What are you doing, or would you do, to address the opioid epidemic on Long Island?
A: Fighting the opioid epidemic has been a top priority of my administration, and working with partners in law enforcement, healthcare, educators, and advocates, our comprehensive approach has led to an encouraging decline of over 20% in fatal overdoses. As District Attorney, I have cracked down on dealers, implemented innovative educational programs in our schools and dedicated unprecedented resources to prevent addiction and provide treatment. My office funded an expansion of Maryhaven’s New Hope Center to open New York’s first 24/7 drug crisis center that works to provide around-the-clock medical treatment and bridge the treatment gap that exists when an overdose victim is released from the emergency room and their placement in long-term treatment. A single overdose is too many, and we will continue to partner with the community and our partners in law enforcement to build upon the progress we’ve made combating this scourge that continues to devastate so many Nassau families.
Q: What’s your position on alternative courts? Do they work? Do we need more alternative courts, and, if so, for what offenses?
A: We know that specialized courts can lead to more efficient and just dispositions, and Nassau has been a leader with our Veterans Court, Treatment Court, and Human Trafficking Court. We have frequently volunteered to partner with the Office of Court Administration to pilot new specialized programs that consider the unique circumstances that bring a defendant into the justice system. I have also established the groundbreaking Phoenix Division within District Attorney’s office, which matches justice-involved individuals with the support and services they need to re-enter the community, train for and find employment, fight addiction, and other services to lead productive and law-abiding lives.
Q: What are the best ways for law enforcement to connect with all Nassau County communities and help ensure that they feel safe?
A: Crime in Nassau County has reached record lows during my tenure as District Attorney, and we are the safest large county in New York, but while those statistics are encouraging, we know that may of our neighbors live in fear of domestic abuse, elder abuse, gang violence, identity theft, and other crimes. Our prosecutors and law enforcement partners are engaged with our community every day— to educate our neighbors about how to prevent crime and how to seek support and justice if they have been a victim. We have dedicated special resources to help the most vulnerable. In 2015, I established our Immigrant Affairs Unit to serve immigrants who may be exploited by employers, traffickers, scammers, and gang recruiters. In 2017, I established a Hate Crimes Unit to help those victimized because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or ethnicity. In 2018, I established a network of advisory councils to engage leaders from the Hispanic, African American, South Asian, and Asian communities, clergy, and other leaders. Additionally, I established Nassau’s first ever Elder Crimes Unit, which provides specialized services to help seniors who have been victims of scams, abuse, neglect or other crimes.
Q: School shootings are on the mind of every parent. What needs to be done in Nassau County to keep our schools safe?
A: As both District Attorney and as the mother of two high school students, the safety of our schools is a top priority for me and for all Nassau law enforcement. Throughout my tenure, we have worked tirelessly to take illegal guns off the streets and to ensure they stay out of the hands of those who would cause harm. We have sponsored gun buybacks, collaborated with educators and community leaders to improve communication with law enforcement about potential threats, and advocated at the national, state, and local levels for common sense gun reforms to improve safety. As a board member of Prosecutors Against Gun Violence, I was proud to be part of the effort to pass Extreme Risk Protection Order legislation, which is a critical new tool to make our schools and communities safer with a procedure to remove guns from those likely to harm themselves or others. While New York has some of the strongest gun laws in the nation— and among the lowest levels of gun violence— it is critical that we remain vigilant in our efforts to stop illegal gun traffickers, to investigate every threat, and to advocate for better gun laws nationwide to make our communities safer.
Q: Studies show racial disparities in drug law enforcement, despite the fact that white people and people of color use and sell drugs at the same rate. What would you do to minimize these disparities?
A: Racial disparities in enforcement are troubling, and I have taken action at every level of the prosecution process to ensure consistency and fairness. We work diligently to recruit a diverse legal and professional staff and engage the community to let them know that we are responsive to the needs of Nassau’s diverse population. I mandated continuing legal education on implicit bias for all prosecutors and we require each attorney to take more than twice the ethics training mandated by New York’s continuing legal education requirements to ensure that staff approaches our work with justice and fairness as their objective. Additionally, I have created two offices — a director of training and recruitment officer to ensure that we recruit and retain the best qualified and trained attorneys and investigators to reflect the diversity of the communities that we serve.
Q: What programs and policies would you implement as District Attorney to reduce crime and increase public safety in the county?
A: During my tenure as District Attorney, Nassau’s crime rate has dropped to historic lows, making it the safest large county in the state. I have and will continue to focus efforts on combating drug and gun trafficking, violent gangs and sexual assaults. Using innovative investigative strategies, collaborative partnerships and intelligence-based prosecution models, we have effectively dismantled narcotics and gang enterprises within Nassau County and beyond its borders. I have prosecuted some of Nassau County’s most notorious, violent criminals. Since 2016, the DA’s office has taken out 218 major gang and trafficking targets, including the highest-ranking MS-13 members on the East Coast.
Q: What is your position on prosecutorial discretion in addressing inequities in our criminal justice system?
A: Prosecutors are granted broad discretion by our laws, and with that comes the great responsibility to do justice. Every prosecutor in my office receives extensive training regarding our ethical obligations, implicit bias, and must be mindful that our objective must always be to do what’s right— whether that means seeking a conviction, dismissing an unsupported charge, or going to court to exonerate a wrongfully convicted individual. We are mindful that given the volume of cases we prosecute each year— approximately 30,000– mistakes will happen. Our Conviction Integrity Unit is led by a nationally regarded prosecutor who personally reviews every allegation of wrongful conviction made to our office.
