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August began with new faces at The People’s Office and San Miguel High School students starting their journey to a months-long internship. The month ended with conversations about back-to-school safety and our cash bail system. Your August 2024 Community Newsletter has arrived.
Criminal Chief Josh Moser and Major Crimes Chief Mark Hotchkiss are seen delighting over the embarrassment of riches to choose from on that fateful hiring day.
Thanks to the mad-dash, mad-cap hiring frenzy that happened in February, our team chose wisely. The 12 law students who joined us in the Criminal Division and two in Civil were absolutely brilliant, excited, and inspired future attorneys who are also genuinely kind souls. We huddled with students to hear what we could have done better, and what went well.
They seemed incredibly joyful. They adored all the attorneys they met, the mentoring they received, the field trips they took, and the growth they achieved. To Bill Brammer, Sam Walker, and James Rappaport, a huge congratulations on the program you continue to build.
As the law students go back to school, ten San Miguel High School freshmen are joining us one day a week to begin their own professional development. At the People’s Office, we serve ALL of Pima County, including youth.
By centering and empowering those in their 20s, and now those in their teens, we continue to advance our goal of serving all and being informed by all.
PCAO has partnered with San Miguel High School and their Corporate Work Study Program to bring in 10 students to intern in our office for the school year. The Corporate Work Study Program itself is a nationally recognized work-study that places students into a professional environment for real-world job experiences. The program at PCAO will not only be beneficial to the students, but it will also allow PCAO to build relationships with the students by helping them to discover their gifts for future careers, hopefully in the legal field. The students have just started their freshman year of high school and have the opportunity to rotate through our various divisions mostly providing administrative and clerical support, hopefully having a little fun along the way.
Our latest episode of The People’s Office Podcast focuses on school safety.
The People’s Office Podcast also invited representatives from the University of Arizona and Tucson Unified School District to discuss some safety tips for new and returning students and parents. It was a very informative episode with critical information to help students navigate campus life.
Following a series of tragic events in our community, The People’s Office released messaging (see photograph below) to educate the public and clear up misinformation about what happens when those accused of a crime make their initial court appearances and the issues with our cash bail system. A link to a recent KOLD story clarifying certain information can be found here:
The Pima County Attorney’s Office has a special announcement. We are pleased to announce our newest member — Maria Arey who will be the new Community Engagement Coordinator at The People’s Office. Please join us in welcoming Maria!
“I am very excited to be part of PCAO and such a wonderful team. I’m really looking forward to being involved in the Tucson community. Being a Tucson native, this position really resonates with me, and I look forward to not only being part of the community and this office but also getting involved, hopefully getting to know more people, and seeing some familiar faces!” Maria said.
If you have an event that you would like to suggest to us you can contact Maria at:: 520-724-5610 (Office)
Anali Pelayo has been a part of the PCAO Diversion team for more than 6 years. While working at the front desk of the department, she developed a strong passion for Diversion and quickly realized that would be a part of her future. She believes in the importance of having mental health services and helping people get the assistance they need.
After a promotion in 2021 and her work on hundreds of misdemeanor and felony cases, she was honored to become the new Diversion Programs Manager.
Anali says she feels supported by PCAO’s senior leadership team and is looking forward to making our Adult and Youth Diversion program bigger and better.
Anali is currently working on her master’s degree in Addiction Psychology at ASU and will be licensed by the State of Arizona by December 2025.
We’re starting to kick off our community engagement season and attended the Fresh Start August breakfast that prepares us for the next October Fresh Start Expo where over 2,000 people are expected to receive services after returning home from prison.
What a great opportunity to start the month with stories of human determination, resilience, and triumph. We pour a lot of energy into people in need, and we don’t always get to see the beautiful outcomes, sometimes until years down the line. Thanks to Fresh Start and other community partners for that opportunity.
Kate Butcher dedicated 20 years of her life as a Victim Advocate here at PCAO. She started out as a volunteer for 8 years and joined us as staff for 12 years in 2012. Kate dedicated her time, energy, and a big part of her life to serving victims of crime. She has made a difference to so many in more ways than we can imagine. We are grateful for all that she gave to our office and victims of crime in Pima County. She did it with compassion, tenacity, and conviction. Thank you Kate and we wish you the best in your journey to retirement!
Our Victims Services Division is always looking for volunteers, we have a training program set for September and October.
We recruit legal researchers, litigators, and professional staff who use their unique talents to move our Office forward. You’re invited to apply to work for a progressive prosecuting agency that values accountability, public service, and outcome-driven thinking.
We offer excellent work-life balance, great incentives, and a generous benefits package, including:
All open PCAO positions APPLY HERE
There are a variety of positions to apply for at PCAO
Here’s a look at some of the links to social media and podcast messages we shared throughout February.
All Podcast episodes are available here:
https://thepeoplesofficepodcast.podbean.com/
Social Media Posts:
School Zone Safety
Heat/Outdoor Safety
Our communications team and volunteers were out gearing up for the fall season of events. We set up tables at the Sunnyside Family Resource Center Grand Opening and the Overdose Awareness event hosted by Enlightening Hope Project.
The PCAO Community Newsletter is published and distributed monthly.
Have questions or concerns?
You can email us at info@pcao.pima.gov.
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