Doug Haubert

A new Homeless Court launched in Long Beach last summer in hopes of getting homeless people out of the criminal justice system and into services they need. What other ways could the prosecutor’s office help alleviate homelessness?  

I am the only candidate with experience or success creating prosecutor-led programs. Here are a few examples of what I’ve done: 

  • Created the Priority Access Diversion (PAD) program to get people off the streets by providing residential (live-in) treatment and recovery for homeless people suffering from mental illness, substance abuse, or both. In 2021, we expanded PAD so we could get more people into services. LA Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse gave me their “Extraordinary Innovation in Community Safety Award” for creating this program.
  • Helped create California’s first Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, a pilot funded by a state grant. LEAD provides housing and intensive case management for up to 300 people. The LAC/Long Beach pilot became a model for other LEAD programs. My office just won a $900,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to expand LEAD throughout Long Beach, the largest grant in City Prosecutor Office history.  
  • Partnered with LBPD and LB-based software company Laserfiche to develop a smartphone app to assist police get homeless people off the streets. The app will include information about mental health and addiction services as well as shelter housing available in Long Beach.  
  • Launched the LB Homeless Court in 2021 (partnering with LB Homeless Services Division) to connect homeless individuals with social services. Those who stay connected can qualify for legal assistance. This is in addition to participating in the Countywide Homeless Court Project (now called Homeless Court Citation Clinic), which I have been doing for 12 years.

I make every effort to assist those suffering from homelessness and provide recovery and shelter options; some people refuse services. I will continue to enforce the law, within constitutional limits, to protect the people of Long Beach, including those living in encampments.

Crime is consistently mentioned as a leading issue for voters. What kind of programs do you think can work to reduce crime and how would you implement them if elected?  

As a prosecutor with 21 years of experience, I have been a leader in this area. It was the gang-related murder of a 16-year-old Wilson High School student right outside a homecoming football game that caused me to become city prosecutor in 2010.

That’s when I created LB’s Gang Prevention Strategy, and improved enforcement of court orders against active gang members, bringing a 760% increase in arrests and prosecutions of gang members, and violent crime to its lowest level in 41 years. But I also focused on intervention (to keep youth from joining gangs) and rehabilitation (assisting gang members who want to leave gang life) because it is more important to prevent gang violence before it starts. 

My strategy won grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, and a national award from Neighborhoods USA, saying:

“In Long Beach, police and prosecutors have developed a three-part strategy that suppresses gang violence, creates community partnerships, and keeps at-risk kids in school. Combining new technology with a neighborhood-based approach, the Gang Prevention Strategy could become a model for prosecutors across the nation.”

I also increased prosecution of violence against women. Here are a few examples:

I will continue to fight to reduce crime every way I can. I will continue to combat hate crime in Long Beach. I will continue to work with and support our law enforcement officers who risk their lives to fight crime. I will also continue to find better, more innovative alternatives for first-time and nonviolent offenders—like the PATH (jobs) program—to make sure they do not become hardened criminals.

Last year California ended cash bail for those who can’t afford it. Do you support ending cash bail entirely for people arrested in the city?  

I support bail reform, but I do not support a complete elimination of bail for all people arrested in the city. Bail is imposed by the judges in each county; it is intended to ensure defendants appear in court to face charges and to protect the public. There are times when bail should be required, especially if the person arrested poses an immediate threat of violence or has a long history of failing to appear in court.

Our current bail system clearly needs fixing and prosecutors should be involved in fixing the problems. Studies have shown that some people who pose no safety threat and are likely to appear in court often remain in jail simply because they are poor. That is not right. (It should be noted that since the COVID-19 pandemic, cash bail has been suspended for misdemeanors except in narrow circumstances, but that is temporary and not a fix.)

I support considering alternatives, such as the use of risk assessment tools to determine if a person is a flight risk or a threat to public safety, provided that an acceptable, objective risk assessment can be created. So far, risk assessments developed have been criticized as unreliable, and some researchers believe they are racially biased. Alternatives used in other counties, such as in-home monitoring and GPS tracking technology, should be considered in California. The answer might be a combination of multiple options. We need to move away from cash bail for most misdemeanor offenses, especially for nonviolent offenses, because there are better, more fair ways to protect the public and ensure a defendant returns to court. 

Fireworks have been a quality of life concern for residents, and the issue has received increasing attention from city officials in recent years. What will you do to help ensure that the city’s ban is followed? 

I am the only candidate who has worked proactively to combat dangerous fireworks. (Dangerous fireworks are unlawful throughout California, like roman candles, sky rockets and aerial shells.) 

Here are some of the actions taken in just the past few years:

  • Attended public meetings to gather information on the scope of the problem, including fire hazards, impact on animals and veterans suffering from PTSD, and how firework sales fuel illegal activity.
  • Created a reporting portal so residents can report when they see dangerous fireworks. The portal allowed witnesses to upload photos and video, and was the first of its kind in California.
  • Provided period reports creating transparency about action taken to enforce the law. 
  • Worked closely with LBPD to apprehend those selling large quantities of dangerous fireworks, and to maximize enforcement efforts.
  • Coordinated victim impact statements from residents, and declarations from fire officials to show the court the extent of the dangers.
  • Helped draft a new city ordinance to hold property owners responsible for allowing discharge of dangerous fireworks from their property.
  • Handled over 140 criminal cases against those who sold, discharged or possessed dangerous fireworks within Long Beach.
  • Sent over 300 notices to owners of property after reports of fireworks discharges from their property. Notices informed owners they would be prosecuted if they permitted fireworks in the future.
  • Investigated public reports of dangerous fireworks discharges and helped to create heat maps to assist law enforcement.
  • Printed notices at my expense to distribute to households to educate residents about dangerous fireworks.

Served on the Long Beach Fireworks Task Force to research and develop additional strategies to combat dangerous fireworks.