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MEET Donna
My name is Donna Buckley, I am a resident of Falmouth, a wife, mother, grandmother, lawyer, and most recently the General Counsel for the Barnstable County Sheriff Office. I grew up in a family where opportunities came only through hard work and persistence.
Many years before I would go to college and law school, my grandmother was working as a union member in a shoe factory. After graduating from law school, I devoted my career to working with unions representing public safety employees and educators, ensuring these public servants had the support and resources necessary to be successful.
READY TO SERVE
The role of our Sheriff is the care and custody of inmates. I am running for Barnstable County Sheriff because we are at a crossroads. With the retirement of the current Sheriff, we as a county have a decision to make. We can remain the same, or we can move in the direction of proven inmate rehabilitation with education, treatment and programs being the focus.
PHOTO | GRAY'S BEACH, YARMOUTH PORT by SUSAN PEASE
MY APPROACH
Who is in our jails?
I see our neighbors, friends, mothers, fathers, children, grandchildren. And yes, while these people have fallen on tough times and have made some criminal and harmful mistakes, most are victims themselves of the diseases of alcohol, drug use and mental health disorders.
Also, virtually every one of these inmates will soon be returning to our community, to our neighborhoods. If we do nothing to support them while they are in our custody, they will continue to commit crimes, and will be back in our custody in a short time.
But with an approach that treats those who have fallen on hard times with hope and humanity, we can create a safer Cape. I have the life experience, legal experience and firsthand experience in the Sheriff’s office to make Barnstable County safer.
AS YOUR SHERIFF I will:
PRIORITIZE OUR PROGRAMMING
Activate proven programs that help inmates better themselves and achieve life goals, like job training and counseling, educational opportunities, and comprehensive mental health & drug and alcohol treatment, including Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).
WORK TO END 287(g)
Move to end 287(g) because it does not make Barnstable safer. As Sheriff, I will always work towards the key goals of the office, to provide education, treatment and support to those in my care and custody so when they leave my care, they can be productive members of society. 287(g) does not add to those goals.
PROVIDE FOR OUR PROFESSIONALS
Equip the dedicated and hard-working correctional officers with the resources and training needed to do the job in today’s world, as well as put education and treatment professionals in place who have the qualifications and life experience to produce the best results.
PREPARE OUR INMATES FOR PRE-RELEASE
Create robust pre-release centers that include reintegration into families and the workplace as part of their focus.
