Garrett County State's Attorney
DUTIES: The State’s Attorney’s Office is a constitutionally created independent agency. The State’s Attorney is the chief prosecutor for criminal violations; and educates the public about criminal justice issues, provides training to lawyers for future service, addresses inequality and promote fairness in the criminal justice system, ensures access to the criminal justice system, promotes professional relations with judges and attorneys, and seeks to further the efficient use of criminal justice resources.SALARY: $103,838TERM: Four years, no term limit.HOW ELECTED: Elected countywide.
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Christian Mash
(Rep)
QUALIFICATIONS: How does your experience prepare you for the duties of this office?
DISCRIMINATION: How will you ensure that everyone is treated fairly in criminal proceedings?
SENTENCING: What are your views on alternatives to prison?
DRUG USE: How will you address the problem of drug use?
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: How will you address the problems of domestic violence?
JUVENILE JUSTICE: What are the greatest needs of our juvenile justice system?
OTHER PRIORITIES: What other issues are priorities for you?
I am a career prosecutor and have experience in several State's Attorney's Offices. I have been a prosecutor since 2013 and have been the State's Attorney for Garrett County since 2023. I have tried many cases, and have learned and improved through the years.
My guiding principle, and one that I communicate to staff, is that our job is to "do the right thing." To that end, we try to avoid bias or pre-conceived notions about cases and seek to follow the evidence and make sound and fair decisions about the matters that come before us. Ethics and fair dealing are central to our mission.
While I strongly believe in accountability for those convicted of crimes, there are certain scenarios where diversionary programs make financial and policy sense for all involved. I have sought to improve the connections between the mental health system and the justice system in our county. I have also been central to the establishment of a drug court, in efforts to address substance abuse.
I have worked with police partners to re-establish the Narcotics Task Force in our county. We have been very successful in countering narcotics traffickers and have reduced the availability of those substances in the past few years. I have also sought to address the root causes of these issues by seeking earlier treatment for substance abuse when those individuals appear on minor charges.
Addressing Domestic Violence is a significant priority. The internal dynamics and difficulties related to DV crime make this challenging, but every prosecutor in my office has specialized training related to these crimes. We seek to make the safety of the victim the central focus. We work with victims, their families, and the Dove Center to identify resources that can assist in this process.
Legislative changes have made this more challenging in recent years. The biggest need of our juvenile justice system is adequate resources within the continuum of treatment and commitment options available through DJS. Rehabilitation is central to the juvenile justice system, and without these resources we are missing opportunities to intervene when it can most effectively prevent future crime.
I have made efforts to modernize the SAO through the use of technology and evaluated every stage of our case-flow to ensure that we are using best practices. Ethics, fairness, and transparency are central to what we do. I aim for a system of accountability and fairness that addresses the needs of victims and improves the safety of our community.
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