New Suffolk DA Rachael Rollins On Walking The Talk Of Criminal Justice Reform

Rachael Rollins was sworn in yesterday as Boston's first-ever female District Attorney, and the first woman of color to serve as District Attorney anywhere in the state. She didn't get there without ruffling a few feathers along the way with her vision for reforming the office, including her calls for a list of misdemeanors that her office would decline to prosecute in the name of cutting the incarceration rate, combating economic and racial inequality, and focusing resources on more serious crimes. Her plan has received pushback from police groups, including the Boston Police Patrolman's Association and The National Police Association, but Rollins ran on those policies and won, beating out four other Democrats and handily defeating her independent opponent in November.

The newly sworn-in District Attorney spoke with Jim Braude about her next steps — and how she practices what she preaches in her personal life.

[joemalley]

Dear Ms Rollins:When you break into a country and get caught. Say the magic word, asylum, and you are good to go.When you break into a home and get caught. Say the magic words, I'm cold, and you are good to go.Thank you, got it.Yours truly.The Criminal.

[karinsmith]

This person is totally insane!! Get her outta dodge people.

[mikemeyer]

I bet if someone broke into her house while she and her family are home she would want the person arrested and prosecuted. What a joke of a woman

[mikemeyer]

How could Massachusetts vote this insane person in office ?

[susanpolanski]

The laws that she does not want to enforce in danger many of us! Until the crimes come to her family and her children she won't understand what this means! I don't want to see Massachusetts turn into California it's bad enough that we have meth mile! I fear for my husband's safety every time he has to go to work in the city of Boston!

[mikemeyer]

What a joke of a district attorney. This country will pay for having this type of leadership.

[GranFinale]

Clearance rates for cases involving black victims are low because of the adversarial relationship between police and black communities. Fear of retaliation for being labeled a snitch or a resentment of police results in low numbers, not racism. How does she not know this ?

[Strykewice]

Incredible interview Jim, and congrats DA Rollins

[franklarkin]

I'm so happy to learn this scumbag will be spending many years in jail. Maybe she'll find a lot of friends there.