J.B. VAN HOLLEN
ATTORNEY GENERAL

Fight Crime. Restore Integrity.

Fight crime. Restore integrity. This is what I have set out to do in the nearly eighteen months I have been your Attorney General.

Victims deserve justice. Fighting crime by assisting in the investigation and prosecution of these crimes, and defending the state when criminals appeal their convictions all move victims of crime closer to justice while holding criminals accountable to the neighborhoods they diminish. Clearly, the Wisconsin Department of Justice is fighting crime.

Integrity is vital to fighting crime. The restoration of integrity to the Department of Justice was, and remains vital.

For decades Wisconsin’s Crime Lab experienced severe DNA processing backlogs. So critical was the backlog that when I became Attorney General, the Crime Lab was working one case as another was added to the backlog. Local police and sheriffs were left waiting to identify criminals and the results which would assure their successful prosecution. Most importantly, this backlog caused victims to experience delays in justice, and frighteningly, left unknown numbers of undetected criminals to continue to prey on Wisconsin’s citizens. I identified this as the first step in how I, as Attorney General, was going to help fight crime.

After a thorough business-like analysis I went to the Legislature and the Governor and explained I would be requesting 31 new analysts to eliminate the backlog in four years. Data showed I needed 60 analysts. Under my leadership, the Department’s Labs would work, through efficiencies and technology, to make up the other half of the well established need. This proposal was mindful of both needs and costs. It was approved overwhelmingly and signed by the Governor. Integrity matters.

Protecting Wisconsin’s most vulnerable is a priority of mine as Attorney General. Fighting predators who prey on children and protecting Wisconsin’s aging population deserve particular attention. In these efforts too, I requested and received additional resources to fight these most egregious and plague-like criminals.

Whether it is processing much needed evidence, protecting children and older citizens, fighting voter fraud, or doing what the Federal Government will not do and address the issues related to illegal immigrants what I and the Department does is premised upon integrity at all levels.

Enough resources? Again, I must consider taxpayers ability to pay and their legislators willingness to fund such requests when these very present needs are sought. The Wisconsin Department of Justice could certainly fight more crime with more resources. Management and requests for resources must be premised on the integrity of the requester.

In the last eighteen months, the Wisconsin Department of Justice has been successfully fighting crime. Assisting local police and prosecutors with investigations is vital. Also, advising State Government and local officials, as their lawyers, on how and why we do what we do matters.

Integrity is transparent and accountability starts at home.

I have not and will not sue law abiding citizens on trumped-up nuisance actions to get them into court.

I have not and will not sue the Legislators you elect to encroach on their, and your, power.

I have not and will not sue the Federal Government to accomplish through the courts what voters deny at the ballot box.

I have not and will not sue state agencies, for which this Department functions as their lawyers, just to embarrass another legitimate government official.

I have not and will not announce the beginning of a Department of Justice investigation through a press release – potentially damaging the reputations of those presumed innocent until proven guilty – and trying to “win” in the press what can not be proven in court. I have never and certainly will never announce an investigation that is not investigated.

Integrity means leadership. This standard must be the Department’s standard. All those in whom you and I have placed trust as employees and administrative leaders in the Department must demonstrate and practice this integrity. Based on your trust in me and my standards, I must demand this level of adherence to law and the public’s high expectations of law enforcement and its lawyers.

I promised you when I ran for election that I would fight crime and restore integrity. The oath I took as Attorney General demands adherence to the law and Wisconsin’s Constitution. I freely and with great humility took that oath.

I have been and intend to keep my promises.

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