On May 20, Philadelphia voters will decide in the primaries who will fill the role of District Attorney, a position that directly influences how crimes are investigated and prosecuted in the city. Although homicides have significantly decreased, there is still a great deal of gun violence, much of it involving young people, including minors.

This year, two candidates are competing for the position: Patrick Dugan, a former judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court with a 17-year career in the judicial system, faces Larry Krasner, the current District Attorney of Philadelphia, who has held the position since 2018. Before his election, Krasner was a civil rights defense attorney and public defender. Both Democrats advocate contrasting approaches to criminal justice and public safety. No Republican candidates entered the primaries.

To help voters understand their proposals on issues that particularly affect the Latino community, Impacto, in partnership with Univision65, presents an edited excerpt with key questions from interviews conducted by journalist and News Director Ilia García. Each interview was conducted independently with each candidate and is published on our website.

Dugan’s Response:
We have to speak with the community. We must maintain open communication, and from the very first moment that something so tragic happens, we need to be an open book: immediately share all the evidence and what is happening behind the scenes with the entire community. We need to train our police officers much better, and I believe there is a movement in that direction. With Commissioner Bethel, there is much more training for officers on how to deal with people in mental health crises, how to de-escalate situations. That’s something I definitely want to continue doing. And yes, certainly the Hispanic community has been marginalized in the city of Philadelphia and within the criminal justice system. We need open communication with the community. We must have members of the Hispanic community working in the District Attorney’s office so we can communicate openly.

Krasner’s Response:
Well, there are things I can say and others I cannot. We are in the middle of that case. The trial is in a few weeks, and for that reason, I cannot make certain statements because we will be selecting a jury, and it is illegal to influence that process.

However, what I can say is that we believe justice must apply to everyone, including the police. We must ensure justice for everyone, whether they speak Spanish or belong to another group. That’s why we brought charges, and we did so carefully. We’ve moved forward to trial. It’s a process, and we will carry it out fairly and properly.

Dugan:
It’s one of the reasons I’m leaving the bench. Kensington plays a big role in this. I’m a Philadelphia native. I lived in Frankford most of my life, near Margaret Orthodox Hill, and I used to come to Kensington as a child to go to the movie theater at Kensington and Allegheny, visit the McPherson Library, and the park. So, it’s a place near and dear to me.

I remember when it was a thriving neighborhood, and as a judge, I was involved in what’s called the Arrest Alternatives Program. Seven years ago, it was a very strong program, and it seems we’re still doing it, but not to the level we should. The judicial and criminal justice systems have good programs—if we all partner, including the mayor, the police commissioner, the district attorney, and the community. Because the greatest victim, in my opinion, has been the neighborhood, where kids can’t walk to school without having to climb over people or see bodies in bags, needles on the streets, crime, and open-air drug dealing.

We became the world’s laughingstock, and we’ve allowed that to happen for the last seven years. So yes, we must integrate with the community. We need to find places where social workers and service providers are increasingly present. In some of the programs I was involved with in municipal court, we had nurses and therapists, in addition to the police, public defenders, and the DA. As a team, we can help each individual. I wish the city, state, and nation—all levels of government—would commit much more to providing services that, unfortunately, the courts have had to take on. I want to collaborate so we can prevent and intervene, but we have to protect the neighborhood victim, and that has not been done over the last seven years.

Krasner:
Excellent question. I’ll try to answer with my poor gringo Spanish. I’ve had contact with that community throughout my career, because I speak a little Spanish, and therefore had many Spanish-speaking clients when I was in private practice. Now, as DA, we also work with many victims, witnesses, and defendants from that community.

The drug problem in Kensington has been around for over 50 years. It’s a very serious issue—probably more than ever—due to the role of pharmaceutical companies that produced massive quantities of opioids.
We are working together—the mayor, the police chief, my office, and other city entities—to address the problem effectively. For decades, efforts focused on arresting people, but that failed. We need to enforce the law, yes, but also use other strategies.

For example, we have filed lawsuits against responsible pharmaceutical companies. We also must go after major drug traffickers, not just the young guys on the corners. But above all, we must invest in addiction treatment and reduce overdose deaths.

If we achieve that, we’ll improve the lives of those living in Kensington, who have suffered for years from public drug use, violence, and neighborhood decline. It’s a team effort, and only by working together can we solve this crisis.

Dugan:
Yes, I would absolutely continue to support that policy. The sanctuary city policy comes from the Executive Branch—that is, Mayor Parker along with the City Council. I fully support it. What you’ve just described are also my concerns. We must educate the community about arrest warrants issued by ICE. If it’s a judicial warrant, unfortunately, they can enter homes; but if it’s an administrative warrant, they shouldn’t open the door. The community must be educated.

My biggest fear is that victims and witnesses won’t come forward because they fear being judged or persecuted. I will do everything in my power to ensure no one is punished for speaking out. And yes, we must resist whatever comes from Washington to protect our communities.

Krasner:
Yes, absolutely. In keeping with the United States Constitution, which also protects immigrants, I want to defend the immigrant community.

My grandparents were immigrants on one side of my family, and it is very important to me to protect people who are here to work hard, take care of their children, and who are not committing crimes.

The good news is that both the mayor, the police chief, and I believe we have the right not to cooperate with the federal government when it prioritizes the persecution of immigrants over the investigation of homicides.

What I try to do is protect that community just like every community, according to the laws of the Constitution.