1. If elected or re-elected to the city council, will you propose programs and/or initiatives to limit the number of arrests for minor offenses in the city?
Richardson:
We must first draw a line and stand firm on which offenses will be considered minor. Once that is established,though these offenses will not warrant arrest they will have repercussions. Fines or community service should replace incarceration in these cases. This will free up our officers and prosecutors to focus on more serious crimes.
2. If elected or re-elected to the city council, will you support a pre-booking diversion program for drug-related offenses and for those suffering from mental health issues?
Richardson:
People with mental illness and drug addiction don’t need incarceration they need help. We must not only educate the individual but the community on the supports available. Arresting of this vulnerable population not only cost taxpayers money but it leaves a blemish on the individual that remains in their future. Arrest can prevent an individual from receiving jobs and housing. This in many cases leads to further addiction. We must educate the citizens on ways to identify illness and addiction and the supports that are available. We must retrain our Law Enforcement Agencies on sensitively ,ethics, identification, and cultural understanding. I will be at the forefront to ensure that this happens.
3. If elected or re-elected to the city council, will you support a policy to require transparency and democratic accountability before city agencies acquire new surveillance tools?
Richardson:
4. If elected or re-elected to the city council will you work to make stop and arrest data, including race and ethnicity data, available to the public quarterly?
Richardson:
5. If elected or re-elected to the city council what will you do to ensure a timely, transparent and independent investigation whenever an officer uses deadly force?
Richardson:
This is a must if we plan to bridge the gap between Cop and Community. We must develop policy that will clearly state the timeframe an investigation must be completed. We must also entertain the idea of outsourcing non biased organizations that can fully conduct investigations successfully.
6. Name 3 steps you would take as a council member to make the Community Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB) more effective.
Richardson:
1. We need a few younger people on the board. People who fall within the demographic and statistical data that these allegations occur.
2. Revise and clearly the line of authority that CLERB has.
3. Hold the City Council accountable to support CLERB on their recommendations.
7. Would you support policies, programs or initiatives to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline?
Richardson:
We must ask the question, are we providing our youth with options other than college to be successful in society? Currently the answer is no more than ever do we need to revisit votech training to give the youth the skills and trades to be productive members of society.
8. What does criminal justice reform mean to you?
Richardson:
Criminal Justice reform means developing a system that is fair and equitable in it’s operations to all parties involved. Dignity and humanity must be the cornerstone of this revised system. It also means continuously working to lessen the population of incarcerated and jailed citizens.
