Home Podcast WTF California: A Chat with Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Chad Mahalich

WTF California: A Chat with Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Chad Mahalich

Podcast

by ECT

On this episode of WTF California Podcast, we are joined by Deputy District Attorney Chad Mahalich. He joins us to speak about what is currently going on within the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office under the leadership of District Attorney Diana Becton. He speaks about morale being down and the office has lost 50 attorneys since Becton was elected. Relationships and morale with police departments. We talk about how in this campaign, Mary Knox is the DA candidate who is for the victims, not the criminal. We talk about integrity, perjury, plagiarism and qualifications needed in the DA’s office. Low level crimes, homelessness and a ton of stuff!

Episode Overview:

  • 00:50 – Introduction of Chad Mahalich
  • 02:20 – we talk about moral at the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and loss of attorney’s
  • 05:12 – Why attorney’s left the DA’s office under Bectons leadership.
  • 08:50 – Becton claims she was appointed then elected to come in and clean up District office. Has that happened and is she any better than previous DA Mark Peterson?
  • 12:20 – Mahalich says his role at the DA’s office is in the community violence reduction unit and what that does.
  • 13:20 – We discuss the “plea down” and how cases have been handled under Becton’s leadership as well as filing standards… including not filing cases at value of $300 or less.
  • 19:50 – We talk about catch and release and criminals let out of jail quickly. We also get into looting vs. theft and the whole “did they need it” policy by Becton
  • 24:25 – Mahalich explains why he removed himself from the officer involved shooting/officer investigations unit.
  • 29:30 – Becton claims crime is down in Contra Costa County. Is that actually true?
  • 34:14 – audience question regarding “do the crime, don’t pay the time” motto in Contra Costa County. What is Mahalich opinion on this tagline. Does theft counseling work along with Restorative justice and diversion?
  • 43:20 – is Becton punishing or retaliating against those within the DA’s office if they challenge or her disagree with her publicly?
  • 46:50 – Has Mahalich seen any change in the relationship between the DA’s office and law enforcement?
  • 48:30 – is there a plan to work with the youth and getting them back on track away from theft, truancy, mental health?
  • 50:18 – we talk Ceasefire program and identifying violent individuals and what’s happen to it?
  • 52:23 – We talk about ethics and why would an attorney recuse themselves from a case?
  • 56:30 – what is it like sitting across a table from “bad guys” and working a case.
  • 59:40 – We talk about this idea of homeless having more rights than business owners and residents.
  • 1:03:44 –We talk about the role of DNA and rape kits and people taking credit for other peoples work.
  • 1:05:19 – Mahalich talks about relationship with Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office.
  • 1:08:25 – we talk about this prosecutors alliance between DA Becton, DA Boudin (San Francisco) and DA Gascon (Los Angeles) and is Contra Costa County heading in the direction of San Francisco and Los Angeles.

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