The Civil Division
The Washoe County District Attorney is comprised of a Criminal and Civil Division. The Criminal Division is responsible for prosecuting felony and gross misdemeanor cases arising in Washoe County. They are also responsible for misdemeanor prosecutions occurring within the County but outside of the City of Reno.
The Washoe County District Attorney’s Civil Division is responsible for advising the County Commission and other county agencies in legal matters. As well the District Attorney is vested with the responsibility to defend the County and its various agencies in civil litigation. The District Attorney can also bring suits on behalf of the County.
The current District Attorney has placed almost exclusive emphasis on the Criminal Division. Having been a former police officer, it is understandable that he maintains only that priority. However in the 21st century, the needs of the Washoe County citizens cannot be adequately addressed through criminal enforcement only.
If elected, I am prepared to change the direction of the Civil Division to assist the Criminal Division in removing and eliminating threats to our community that cannot always be addressed with a criminal prosecution. One example of this opportunity comes in eradicating the scourge of gang activity that plagues some communities and neighborhoods by seeking civil injunctions.
My intentions are to seek civil injunctions to curb gang activity and improve our neighborhoods. Under my plan, the Civil Division would seek a temporary restraining order against known gangs, while simultaneously filing a civil lawsuit for a permanent nuisance injunction which would prevent these gangs from gathering and intimidating the law-abiding citizens of Washoe County. This approach, in addition to aggressive criminal prosecutions of gang affiliates, has worked to reduce criminal gang activity in other communities around the country. Washoe County should mirror the success of those efforts.
If elected, I also intend on creating an Environmental Crimes Division. The focus of this Division is to protect our community from companies and individuals that violate environmental laws—violations that can threaten the environment or endanger public health. The Division would investigate and prosecute matters involving unlawful treatment, transportation, storage and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes. In addition to criminal charges, the division would also seek, where appropriate, civil complaints and monetary penalties against entities or individuals to prevent on-going violations.