Personal Statement

Early Life
I was born and raised in the Bay Area. My parents, Bill and Claire O’Malley, moved to the Bay Area shortly before I was born. I come from a large family of nine brothers and sisters. While I was young, my parents had their share of trials and tribulations: My father worked hard and went to school at night, graduating from law school one month before their seventh child was born; My mother – a strong, wonderful woman – had the primary responsibility of taking care of my siblings and me, while running the household, solving the monthly dilemma of paying bills and keeping food on the table.

In 1968, my sister Maura and my brother Dan were driving my father home from work when their car was hit head-on by a drunk driver. Maura was killed, just 3 days before leaving for college. This event caused my parents great pain, but I could see their healing and dignity while facing this tragedy without giving up on life. I learned that in spite of challenges and setbacks, they never lost their wonderful spirit to serve others and lead a life of integrity and honesty. I grew up knowing I wanted a life of public service, and have carried those traits with me throughout my life and into my public career as District Attorney.

Outside of my work as District Attorney, I am a proud resident of Alameda County and am married to a former professional chef. I enjoy playing golf, gardening, supporting many different causes and spending time with my many nieces and nephews.

Personal Challenges/Cancer Survivor
In 1978, I was diagnosed with cancer and spent a year undergoing chemotherapy. It was an extremely challenging year but I stayed strong and positive in the face of adversity. Eventually, I overcame my battle with cancer and as a result, I was asked by my doctors to speak to other chemotherapy patients about the personal challenges cancer has on one’s life. This experience gave me a sense of a greater purpose and I was honored to have the chance to help others during such difficult times.

My life philosophy has been shaped by my upbringing and my personal battle with cancer. I never give up, am steadfast and work hard through the tough times. Early on, I learned from my parents that personal tragedy does not mean having to lose perspective on life. My experience with cancer reinforced my passion towards service to others, strengthened the foundation of my character and has contributed to the person I have become. I personally understand the challenges of dealing with life during times of great difficulty, and my experience has provided me with the ability to better serve victims of crimes and enhance my work as District Attorney.

Working With Youth
My commitment to community service began when I was a teenager, volunteering for varied causes. During my years in College, I volunteered at a rape crisis center and domestic violence shelters. This had a profound impact on me, discovering for myself how the victims of these crimes were treated by the justice and social services systems.

In 1994, I wrote a grant and created a statewide pilot project aimed at protecting teens from sexual abuse and exploitation. A year later, the project became a model for California. Within two years, every District Attorney’s Office in the state received funds to implement the program.

In 1995, while continuing my work with youth, I established FutureChoice, an innovative YMCA youth development program in Oakland, which taught at-risk youth about community and conflict resolution and involved both academic enrichment and mentoring. FutureChoice achieved success within the community because of a grant proposal I helped write, and continues to be funded today.

In addition to grant-funded programs, during the past ten years I have been a personal mentor to teens; obtained funding for the 3R Conference, a statewide conference dealing with issues specifically affecting teens (e.g., health, sexual assault, education, commercial exploitation); Mentored youth in the Alta-Bates Summer Youth Employment Program; and in 2008, I established the District Attorney’s Summer Youth Employment Program which involves 12 youth working in the DA’s Forensic Scanning Unit, educating youth about storing digital files while placing emphasis on the environment by creating a 'paperless office'.

I strongly believe in setting an example for the next generation, creating innovative programs to help kids thrive, and I remain committed to keeping our children safe. Working with youth has been especially important to me throughout my life and I will continue with these and other programs in my position as District Attorney.

Legislation
In my early years as a prosecutor, I realized legislation lacked protection for victims of crimes and access for people with disabilities. I proposed changes through the California District Attorney’s Association and am proud that several of the bills I have either written or worked on have become law. The majority of my legislative work has focused on enhancing the rights and protections of victims of crime. One example is the law that now requires the court to make changes to accommodate victims in the courtroom if the victim has a developmental disability.

Other legislative changes I have directly dealt with include:

Senate Bill 350, in which California received millions of dollars from the Office on Violence Against Women for programs;
Assembly Bill 499, which I re-wrote and became law on January 1, 2009, creating a diversion program for sexually exploited minors;
I wrote a policy paper for California on sexual assault exams that allows California to receive as much as $19 million dollars per year for non-profit domestic violence and sexual assault providers, the prosecution, law enforcement and allied professionals;
and I am currently working on Senate Bill 50 which reaffirms this law.

Alameda County Family Justice Center
I have achieved a great deal as a member of the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, of which I am extremely proud. One of the most positive and important steps we have taken include creating the Alameda County Family Justice Center (ACFJC).

The ACFJC significantly changed the way in which victims of domestic violence, their children, victims of elder abuse, child abuse and exploitation, and sexual assault victims are treated by the judicial system. The ACFJC has a strong non-profit partnership with over 100 organizations that provide services including crisis intervention, survivor support, victim advocacy, legal assistance, emergency transitional housing, employment assistance, and medical care and mental health counseling for victims. Along with writing the initial grant for the center, I continue to be involved in grant writing that has yielded more than $3 million in funding for the ACFJC.

Also, I serve as a national advisor and consultant (without compensation) to other communities throughout California and the United States who are involved with creating other Family Justice Centers. The ACFJC is a nationally recognized model and was selected as only 1 of 15 communities that received funding from the President’s Family Justice Center Initiative through the U.S. Department of Justice. (See www.acfjc.org). I am a proud leader and supporter of this exceptional Alameda County program.

Leadership
I work to inspire my colleagues and those around me to higher levels of teamwork and excellence. I am proud to have been chosen to be the District Attorney and will continue the leadership that helped establish the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office as one of the best DA’s offices in the country. I believe that leaders are individuals who motivate others to accomplish objectives. I have a strong sense of justice and believe in providing that leadership and fostering excellence while maintaining integrity and having respect for all. Both my professional and personal experience has provided me with the skills and vision essential to meet the challenges faced by Alameda County, public safety partners, and the District Attorney’s Office as we continue to serve our citizens and communities with excellence.

Proudly, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has a well-earned, well-deserved reputation for excellence and leadership in public safety and prosecution. For 25 years, I have had the honor to stand with my colleagues to ensure that the work of the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office justifies its reputation. The District Attorney’s Office is only as effective as the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the men and women who staff the office. Strong and stable leadership, committed and talented professionals, and consistent and conscientious policies enable the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office to continue to thrive and grow with the changes in society and the law.

I am prepared for the challenges of the District Attorney’s Office and am honored to be the first woman to hold the position of District Attorney in Alameda County’s history. I will uphold the fine tradition that the office has established throughout the years.