Q. What do you see as the greatest threat to our community's safety?

A. Methamphetamine (also known on the street as "crank") is the single biggest threat to our safety, health, and economy. This insidious drug is robbing our young people of their youth and is making a new underclass of citizens unable to complete school, hold or find a job, or develop parenting skills. It is a vicious cycle. This powerful drug holds addicts captive and the relapse rate is very high. "Crank" is a big reason for jail overcrowding, clogged court dockets, property crimes, crimes of violence, and a justice system that is busting at the seams. Over one third of the felonies we filed last year directly involved this drug. We have zero tolerance for the sellers of this poison and those who manufacture and traffic it to our kids. North Idaho accounted for over one half of the crank labs busted in the state last year. That is an alarming statistic. We should all be concerned.

Q. Is there anything different or new being done to tackle the methamphetamine problem?

A. The dedicated men and women of law enforcement are doing an outstanding job in taking the dealers and users off the street. We are doing a good job in prosecuting the offenders. I implemented the Grand Jury system in Kootenai county three years as another weapon in our battle against drug traffickers. This is the first time we have a standing grand jury in Kootenai County, which meets about once per months to hear various cases. We also applied for and obtained a criminal justice grant to start north Idaho's first Drug Court which we run in cooperation with the court, defense lawyers, treatment providers, and the Department of Probation and Parole. It is designed to address the less serious, first time drug offender. It forces that defendant into treatment for nine months and is strictly run. This was started in October 1999, and we have seen great success. We want to keep it going, because we know that eventually it will greatly reduce the number of repeat offenders.

Q. What is your attitude on the death penalty?

A. I believe in the death penalty and have asked that the court impose it in several cases. The death penalty needs to be available for society's worst killers and we must have the fortitude to apply it in appropriate cases. I believe that the death penalty provides deterrence to many crimes.

Q. What are you doing about domestic and family violence?

A. We recently employed a full time Domestic and Family Violence Victim Advocate in our office. We have close partnerships with the CDA Women's Center and the Post Falls O.A.S.I.S. We routinely conduct training for many law enforcement and social agencies. We require that offenders, in addition to jail time, get batterer treatment. We also insure that victims receive counseling.

Q. What about juvenile crime?

A. We have experienced a dramatic rise in juvenile crime. This rise corresponds with the rise in illegal drug arrests and use. Juveniles who commit crimes need to be held accountable. Idaho has very good laws addressing juvenile crime. We also need to be a resource for parents of juveniles who commit crime, just as we are a resource for victims of juvenile crime. Many of these parents are well meaning and have tried to do a good job at raising kids. Many of these parents are at the breaking point and the juvenile justice system is the last resort for intervention. Most of them want their kids accountable and are thankful for our tough stance.