I care about this community and your safety is my business.
Our community continues to be one of the safest places to live in California, and in recent years we have seen a decrease in the severity of crime. Violent crime in Nevada County has decreased substantially since 2006, and the most recent FBI statistics show Nevada County as one of only nine California counties with a decreased crime rate in 2016. However, public safety requires constant vigilance and a proactive approach through prevention as well as prosecution.
I have spent the last eleven years working to create an office that emulates the qualities of ‘integrity, patience, and courage...doing what’s right… making decisions based on facts and the law…knowing which criminals to target.’
My Deputy District Attorneys and I take an especially strong stance against the criminal activities that threaten the quality of life in our community.
A solid working relationship with law enforcement remains critical to the success of the office. Over the last eleven years, cooperation, communication and a team approach toward solving crimes and prosecuting criminals, has enhanced the effectiveness of law enforcement in Nevada County.
We continue to implement programs to decrease recidivism, increase public safety, and address the “revolving door” within the population of the County Jail system.
Nevada County Criminal Justice system faces many serious challenges.
We are faced with dramatic challenges and changes to the criminal justice system due to “Realignment.” "Realignment" is the legislature’s mandate that we keep criminal offenders locally instead of sending them to prison in order to reduce prison overcrowding. While I fought against this law, the law passed, and has since been implemented.
"Realignment" continues to be a significant issue for the criminal justice system and a challenge to public safety. My past experience as a probation officer, trial attorney and the elected District Attorney make me uniquely-qualified to lead Nevada County through the upcoming challenges.
My work is not finished.
The challenge of the future will be to continue to provide core prosecutorial services. To acclimate to the fiscal limitations we face, the DA’s Office will continue the sometimes unpopular process of streamlining our business processes. We have cut where possible without sacrificing prosecutorial integrity. At no point will I voluntarily sacrifice public safety for economic expediency.
Although we have accomplished much in the last years, there is still work to be done in the administration of justice for the citizens of Nevada County.
My vision for the District Attorney’s Office is one of optimism and readiness, and with your support, we can meet the challenges of the next four years. I will continue to prosecute crime vigorously, hold criminal offenders accountable, and make sure the victims' voice is heard.
Cliff Newell