Earlier this summer, the Post asked our readers what issues you wanted to hear candidates in contested races address leading up to the Nov. 5. election.
Based on that feedback, we developed a five-item questionnaire centering the issues most important to residents across Johnson County.
Each day this week, we’ll publish the candidates’ responses to one question. Read the candidates’ responses to the previous question about staffing, officer-involved shootings, diversion and drugs.
Today, we’re publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:
Some readers want to see the Johnson County DA’s office be more transparent. They point out that data about the office’s cases and prosecutions is hard to find. Some others say they’d also like the DA to more proactively release officer body camera footage, when appropriate, following high-profile incidents. What steps, if any, would you take to make the DA’s office’s processes and inner workings more transparent to the public?
Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on the issue:
Steve Howe (Republican, incumbent)
Our website provides extensive information on how to assist the public in obtaining information and services during their involvement in the criminal justice system.
Each year we submit a year-end report that outlines the accomplishments and data associated with my office. We also provide numerous press releases outlining final dispositions of high-profile cases.
I understand the desire for the public to know more, however we are limited in the release of body camera information while the case is pending in court. Under Kansas Supreme Court Rule 3.6, we have an ethical duty to limit the discussion or release of information while the case is pending. This helps ensure we don’t negatively impact a person’s right to a fair trial.
When permitted, I have always made myself available for interviews by the media to answer questions before, during and after the court proceedings.
Vanessa Riebli (Democratic)
I am committed to returning the District Attorney’s Office from one of isolation to one of transparency and collaboration. I am endorsed by the three major Fraternal Orders of Police in Johnson County, because much of the law enforcement community no longer feels like they have a good working relationship with the office. Officers cite a lack of communication with the office, including phone calls not being returned by prosecutors, lackluster case preparation, and not being kept apprised of case statuses. For the office to work, there must be an open line of communication with all criminal justice partners–this is essential to transparency.
Additionally, the District Attorney’s Office does not provide easily accessible data to the public as has been done in previous years. It is unknown why this data is no longer provided. In contrast, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office provides a multitude of data points regarding the work done in the office such as case filings, case outcomes, jury trial verdicts, defendant demographics, types of cases charged and specific referring agency statistics. A similar data dashboard should be utilized by the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office to allow for greater transparency as to what is occurring in the office with taxpayer dollars.
Body camera footage should be released, as allowed by statute, in order to provide full transparency following high profile events. Video footage of these events is connected to the core of public confidence in law enforcement conducting these investigations and it is in the public interest to release it.
Lack of collaboration, communication, and transparency are some of the most pressing issues with the current District Attorney’s Office and its leadership. The office is run on taxpayer dollars and should be accountable to all of Johnson County.
