Kevin is a lifelong resident of Massachusetts, from an early age his parents taught him the importance of getting involved in your community and the meaning of hard work. He received his bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College in 1990 and then decided to attend law school, graduating from Boston University in 1995.
As District Attorney, Kevin knows that effective community engagement is critical to his office. In June, he announced his Community Engagement/Strategic Partnerships Division and has begun to staff the division with two community relations professionals with deep experience in relationship building, re-entry programming, and crime prevention strategies.
This initiative will be essential to building transparency and trust, fostering a genuine understanding of the communities the office serves and offering real guidance necessary to the prioritization of the efforts of the District Attorney’s Office.
In addition, Kevin announced an initiative that would offer grant funding to a community lead nonprofit across Suffolk County dedicated to supporting violence and substance use prevention and treatment programming. Kevin believes the work done by these community lead initiatives are fundamental to public safety and building a more equitable society.
As District Attorney and previously as a defense attorney, Kevin has seen firsthand the opioid epidemic’s devastating impact on our communities. He believes in decisive, urgent action and regional response to directly address this public health crisis, repair the continuum of care, and help individuals access recovery.
While much of this work will need to be done in partnership with the state and local municipalities, Kevin is committed to doing all he can as District Attorney to combat this epidemic. He knows that those struggling with opioid addiction, in most cases, need treatment, not incarceration.
In April, Kevin invested $450,000 to expand the Suffolk County Services over Sentences Program with the specific focus of assisting those suffering from substance use and mental health disorders get the treatment and services as an alternative to prosecution. Program members will work with participants on detox treatment and maintaining sobriety, mental health treatment, establishing a source of income, ensuring safe and stable housing, developing skills and educational training, and ensuring access to healthy food and access to healthcare.
Kevin announced in May the creation of the Suffolk Restorative Justice program in partnership with Communities for Restorative Justice. This initiative will create a voluntary, inclusive, confidential, and collaborative process by which non-violent offenders, victims, and members of the community identify and address harms, as well as any needs and obligations resulting from an offense, to help all parties understand the impact of that offense and move forward in a spirit of healing and reconciliation.
Restorative Justices will ensure that:
Offenders see firsthand the human cost and take steps towards retribution and healing in the process of being held accountable for their actions.
Victims can take an active role in the justice process, face those who have wronged them, and have the opportunity to receive not only justice but also further understanding.
The long-term health of our communities is strengthened and residents have the chance to form more trusting relationships with those in the District Attorney’s office and with each other.
Kevin knows the devastating impact gun violence has had on so many communities. He has taken decisive action to remove these weapons from our streets and target the individuals who are responsible for their spread.
As District Attorney, Kevin is committed to working with law enforcement, community organizations, and residents to combat violence in our streets. He and his team will continue to develop new and innovative strategies in the fight against gun trafficking and gun-related crime, which has led to violence, bloodshed, terror, and tragedy in our neighborhoods.
Kevin created Boston FIRST, a multi-agency program that uses best practices in firearms forensics evidence and data to target gun traffickers and unsolved shootings. Boston FIRST combines technology, intelligence, and personnel to identify and hold accountable those responsible for moving large quantities of guns into our communities.
Kevin also started the Firearm Rapid Indictment Program, which uses two dedicated prosecutors and two grand juries to expedite serious gun cases into superior court.