The Multnomah Co. DA is making a request for neighborhood-based prosecutors ahead of the county budget. Mike Schmidt said his request should not be seen as a push to send more people to prison. However, the plan is supported by conservatives that do want more people to go to jail for the purpose of public safety.
Schmidt’s pitch is a $2.7 million plan for the neighborhood-based prosecutor program. It is called the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office Access Program, or MAAPs for short. It would put eight prosecutors and eight support staffers in offices across the county’s four commissioner districts. Employees would work with residents and community groups to address their concerns and be a representative of the DA’s office.
Schmidt said his objective is to increase safety. He also said he was less concerned with what it looks like to one group or another. He added that he wants to show things that work, and this is a model that is proven to work across the country. “In Chicago, it’s credited with bringing down violent crime,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt said his approach sends a message to community members who believe his office isn’t doing enough. Schmidt’s request was not in the county chair’s budget proposal, meaning one of the county commissioners would need to propose an amendment to add it.
In April at a forum for the county chair race, three current commissioners who were running for chair said they supported the plan. Schmidt said broad community support from community-based organizations, business leaders, labor groups, and law enforcement proved it can be an effective program.
