I’ve devoted my career to ensuring the most marginalized members of our community have access to fair and just outcomes in the courtroom. That’s not always made me the most popular person in the room, especially in a society that desperately wants to create a narrative of good vs. evil in the criminal justice system. The truth is the system doesn’t work that way.  And, here in Allegheny County, the system isn’t working at all. Everyday we’re failing the people who encounter the criminal justice system.  We fail to address the issues that bring defendants into the system: substance abuse disorder, untreated or undiagnosed mental health issues, and instability due to poverty. We’re failing victims of violent crime by not securing convictions on our most serious cases. We’re failing Allegheny County because our criminal justice system refuses to acknowledge the humanity of the individuals it is meant to serve. I'm Matt Dugan, and I am running for District Attorney to change that. Matt's full statement