re-elect deborah gonzalez, The people’s champion
Your District Attorney
Powered by The People of The Western Judicial Circuit
THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE NEVER ENDS...
WELCOME TO OUR MOVEMENT
In 2020, Deborah Gonzalez successfully fought to have the race decided by the people of our community, not political insiders. The Western Judicial Circuit sent a message by electing Deborah as District Attorney – that criminal justice reform matters and that the old way of doing things is no longer acceptable.
Since taking office, D.A. Gonzalez has worked tirelessly to protect you and your loved ones while breaking the cycles of injustice that fuel crime or other public safety threats. Over the past few years, her administration has achieved so much. But the work is never done – especially when so many forces within our state refuse to willingly give up power to reformers like Deborah.
Please take some time to explore this site and learn more about Deborah’s accomplishments as District Attorney. She needs your support in 2024 to continue the vital work being done to better the future of our community!
JUSTICE
Advancing the cause of criminal justice reform. Deborah believes that it is the responsibility of the District Attorney’s Office, along with other portions of the legal system, to acknowledge and correct the inequities and systemic discrimination that have been historically perpetuated by the criminal legal system.
Deborah aspires to change that system into a true criminal justice system by focusing on serious crimes and repeat offenders, while finding alternative accountability-based measures to address most nonviolent crimes or issues presented by juvenile defendants.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Protecting the Western Judicial Circuit from state overreach. Our state’s government has taken extreme steps to curtail and undermine local District Attorneys, especially when they challenge the status quo. Deborah remains committed to representing the values of the circuit – not the priorities of politicians pushing an outside agenda.
She also continues to prioritize protecting and advocating for victims by forging strong community partnerships and utilizing trauma-informed care practices.
COMMUNITY
Committing to complete transparency and accountability. Deborah is dedicated to making the Western Judicial Circuit a national leader in transparency measures, including comprehensive data reporting. Our system can be truly justice-oriented when everyone can understand the outcomes and process behind each decision.
Under her tenure, the office has increased community outreach efforts by expanding partnerships with faith-based leaders, advocacy groups, and multiple university systems.
Under Her Leadership
- The District Attorney’s office successfully worked through the court backlog caused by the COVID Pandemic.
- The office maintained a strong closure and conviction rate for cases that were caught in the backlog of the court closure, and therefore often posed additional challenges from a prosecutorial standpoint.
- The depth and breadth of victim services has greatly increased - including providing additional multilingual services, building a Victim’s Lounge designed by experts in trauma-informed care, and leveraging an extensive network of local partner organizations.
- The District Attorney’s office has fostered substantial ties with the diverse communities of Athens-Clarke County and Oconee County. This has been solidified by meaningful commitments to transparency - such as a monthly newsletter, frequent public-facing events, and a data dashboard.
- Crime rates have dropped, validating the theory that public safety can be enhanced by focusing efforts on violent crimes - and finding alternative solutions for non-violent or non-repeat offenses.
- Deborah has led substantial efforts to reform the system and address historic inequities, including participating in records restriction events, creating alternative solutions for at-risk youth, and spearheading several restorative justice or resentencing efforts.