SABLAN&STAFFLER


FOR CNMI GOV. AND LT. GOV 2022



A Safe and Just Community



To better protect our communities and keep our families and neighborhoods safe, we must transform our criminal justice system. We envision law enforcement officers who are trusted, well-trained, held to the highest ethical standards, and equipped with the resources they need to protect and serve. Incarceration is the harshest tool of punishment in our system of justice, and to reduce incarceration and recidivism we must promote greater use of specialty courts and diversion programs for non-violent, minor offenses. A person charged with a minor offense who has fulfilled certain requirements, such as completing treatment, making restitution to victims, and performing community service, should not be incarcerated or burdened with a criminal record for life. We also recognize that mandatory sentencing laws and lengthy jail times do not result in safer communities, especially when correctional or rehabilitative services are lacking during incarceration. Individuals who are incarcerated must be given opportunities to turn their lives around and become contributing members of society when they complete their sentences.



Professional standards for law enforcement



We see an urgent need to address mismanagement and low morale at the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Corrections. We will push for enhanced minimum qualifications for law enforcement commissioners, require regular professional development and ethics training for all officers, and promote and incentivize college education. We will require the use of body-worn cameras, and other evidence-based measures to include training at the law enforcement academies and on the job in areas such as conflict resolution, de-escalation, peer intervention, and appropriate use of force. We will also proactively seek to strengthen relationships with federal law enforcement partners to deter and solve crimes, share resources, and expand training opportunities.



Problem-solving courts and diversion programs





We support the increased use of problem-solving courts and diversion programs for minor offenders, as a means to reduce incarceration and recidivism and their associated costs, and to enhance public safety. These programs must be adequately funded, and we will reinvest a portion of the cost savings they realize back into further development, evaluation, and improvement of initiatives to reduce incarceration and recidivism in the Marianas.



Evidence-based rehabilitation and reentry programs





We support the implementation of evidence-based rehabilitation and reentry programs for incarcerated citizens and ex-offenders. We also support access to educational programs including G.E.D., career and technical education, college education, and educational financial aid; housing assistance; mental health services; employment assistance; and community service opportunities to help ex-offenders reintegrate with society and transition successfully to become productive and law-abiding citizens.



OUR PLATFORM