Pete Dougherty - District 16 | ACLU West Virginia

Please provide some basic information about yourself.

Name Pete Dougherty

Office Sought State Senate

City/Town Charles Town

From 1980 to 2016 the West Virginia state prison population has increased by 470%. What, if anything, would you change to reverse this trend?

There are many ways to reduce incarceration it starts with helping early with investing in education training and employment.

Civil asset forfeiture is a process where police can seize any property "related" to criminal activity and later can file a civil case to forfeit the property to either be used or auctioned for money which is shared between the police department and local prosecutor. This can happen regardless of whether there is a criminal conviction or even criminal charges brought against a person.Proponents say this is a useful tool for taking ill-gotten gains from criminals and funding police work, and that legal protections adequately prevent abuse of the system.Critics say the system amounts to theft, that many people cannot afford the legal costs to challenge a forfeiture action, and that it creates a perverse incentive for police.Do you support or oppose the practice of civil asset forfeiture? What, if any, reforms would you make to the practice?

I am a Sheriff and have in 8 years only sought this in a few instances. I do not want it used often for minor offenses - there are some abuses if problems are shown.

More than half the population of West Virginia's regional jails are pre-trial. That means they haven't been found guilty of any crime yet. Most are there because they could not afford bail, though some are there because they were denied a chance to post bail. What changes, if any would you make to our pretrial and/or bail system to balance concerns about safety and court efficiency with ensuring we are not incarcerating people without due process?

My office has reduced and have almost no misdemeanor offenders awaiting hearings. We have a robust home confinement program. Keeping people employed and with their families is a benefit both financially for taxpayer and the defendant.

In 2015 West Virginia passed significant reforms to the juvenile justice system. Despite these reforms, the State still utilizes out of home placement at a high rate for system-involved youth. What, if anything, should West Virginia do to reduce out-of-home placements for system-involved juveniles?

I have complained about this repeatedly as a Sheriff. I am appalled that we have juveniles from my county that get sent as far away as Tennessee. I was a juvenile probation officer and juvenile court referee and served on my county board of education so I know how important it is to do all be can early in the lives of children and youth to give them greater chances to be successful later in life.

West Virginia has a very low voter participation rate. What changes, if any, would you make to increase voter participation?

West Virginia needs to expand early voting, absentee balloting and make sure polling precincts are accessible and inviting, The current legislature seems bent on getting some voters to the polls. I am interested in getting all to participate in one of their fundamental rights.

Over the past few years, there has been legislation aimed at requiring the Bible to be taught in public schools, allowing a Bible-based elective, or faith-based drug prevention electives. What is your stance on incorporating religion into the public schools?

I read the Bible frequently and encourage others to do that as well. However I am not in favor of the attempts to have public schools to used to promote religion.

At least 20 states have passed laws prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. 13 West Virginia municipalities have similar protections. Do you support or oppose a statewide law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in West Virginia? Why?

All persons should be able to enjoy housing, employment and public accommodations. There should be no discrimination.

In December 2019, Governor Justice announced that West Virginia would continue accepting refugees. Do you support or oppose accepting refugees in West Virginia? Under what conditions? Why?

We as a nation and a state should within reasonable accept refugees. We are a country of immigrants and many of our ancestors came here to avoid persecution and discrimination in their native lands. Many of those who came here have helped to make us a great state and nation.

Q10

Over the past few years, some states have continued to erode protections and access to abortion care. Other states have done the opposite and codified abortion rights that had previously been defined by courts. Do you favor further restrictions to abortion, expanding or codifying abortion rights, or taking no action on abortion?

I see no reason to take any action that erodes the protections a woman has related to her body. I will not vote to restrict or set arbitrary delays. Government should be there to insure that a woman in consultation with medical professionals has appropriate health service available regardless of her economic position. Government should not try to make those decisions for her.