Kaylie Simon

Because As a public defender, I believe that a Harris presidency offers the chance to reduce mass incarceration

As a public defender, I am enthusiastic about backing Kamala Harris as president. Yes, she was a prosecutor. I often have different philosophical ideas from my prosecutor counterparts about how to address societal harms. But despite her background as a prosecutor, her presidency promises to reduce mass incarceration rather than expand it. Her leadership offers hope for meaningful change, reflecting the ideals of fairness and compassion that are central to the work we do every day.

I am acutely aware of the dangers of expanding the criminalization of personal decisions as a public defender. Making abortion illegal inevitably leads to the incarceration of women seeking to end a pregnancy, along with health care providers. Harris will protect the right to choose, ensuring that women have control over their reproductive health without increasing the prison population.

Harris will use clemency to advance efforts in reducing incarceration. The ability to grant clemency is a powerful tool that can be used to free those who have been harshly sentenced and demonstrated genuine rehabilitation. She will focus on individuals who deserve it rather than extending favors to privileged associates.

On drug policy, Harris will support efforts to expunge federal marijuana charges. Criminalizing drug use has failed to deter it or ensure safer practices. By concentrating on expungement rather than prosecution, Harris will take a significant step toward correcting the criminalization of marijuana users.

Reentry support is another critical area where Harris will make a difference. The United States, with the highest incarceration rate per capita in the world, often neglects the needs of individuals returning to society after imprisonment. Harris’s policies will prioritize welcoming people back into their communities with the support they need, reducing recidivism and promoting humane treatment.

Harris is also a vocal critic of private prisons. She recognizes the problems associated with for-profit incarceration. During her tenure as attorney general, she supported measures to limit the role of private prison companies. As a US senator, she sponsored legislation to eradicate private prisons from the federal system. Her presidency would continue to end the use of private prisons.

Harris promises to expand access to public defenders and increase funding for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. This is a stark contrast to Trump’s previous approach, which essentially defunded such access to justice.

Harris plans to reform the money bail system, proposing alternatives and enhancing federal diversion programs. This aims to reduce the number of individuals incarcerated pretrial due to their inability to pay bail.

Furthermore, understanding that our criminal legal system’s history is rooted in prejudice, Harris is dedicated to dismantling systemic racism and eliminating racial disparities and bias within it. 

And so, as a public defender who has seen the struggles and resilience of those navigating our criminal justice system firsthand, I am moved by Kamala Harris’s vision for our country. As president, she will lead our nation toward healing and reform with a focus on rehabilitation and equity. Her presidency promises to not only address the systemic issues within our criminal justice system, but to also champion the dignity and humanity of every individual. By working toward a more just and humane society, Harris embodies the values that drive my dedication to defending those who need it most.

Kaylie Simon is a Deputy Public Defender in the Bay Area.