The Fayetteville Observer, Two from Cumberland County are running for top North Carolina offices in 2024

The News & Observer, Candidate for NC attorney general, Democrat Tim Dunn, answers our questions

Legal Experience

Supports reducing gun violence and violent crime by supporting local and state law enforcement and district attorneys.

- Supports reducing gun violence and violent crime by supporting local and state law enforcement and district attorneys.

Public Safety

As of January 31, 2024, Tim Dunn did not have a website or any information online.

Consumer Protection

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Tim Dunn

Previously worked as an assistant district attorney in Gaston County, where he tried more than one hundred cases

Has a law degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

- Previously worked as an assistant district attorney in Gaston County, where he tried more than one hundred cases
- Has a law degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Candidate website

Supports criminal justice reform, including reducing unnecessary police interactions, minimizing mandatory minimums, restoring driver's licenses over unpaid tickets, and streamlining record expungement for dismissed charges or acquittals.

Supports comprehensive criminal justice reform such as improving reentry programs, reducing unnecessary police interactions, and minimizing mandatory minimums.

Believes the criminal justice system fails to deliver fair justice, noting racial disparities and excessive incarceration for nonviolent offenses, and advocates for comprehensive reform with enhanced re-entry and treatment programs.

Believes the criminal justice system fails to deliver fair justice, noting racial disparities and excessive incarceration for nonviolent offenses.

The candidate's website says, "Jeff has proposed legislation to implement universal background checks and extreme risk protection orders and to prohibit the sale of bump stocks and similar devices. ... He has also proposed legislation to provide funding for public safety improvements and additional support personnel at North Carolina public schools."

Supports gun control and has proposed legislation to implement universal background checks and extreme risk protection orders and to prohibit the sale of bump stocks and similar devices.

The candidate's website says, "And in 2016, Jeff was one of only two NC Senators to vote against a bill that would have made it harder for North Carolinians to access dash camera and body camera footage."

Supports more police transparency and access to dash camera and body camera footage.

Supports police accountability and transparency; initiated an inquiry into CMPD's use of teargas against BLM protesters, seeking truth and systemic reform in response to George Floyd's murder.

Supports police accountability and initiated an inquiry into the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) use of teargas against Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters in 2020.

The candidate's website says, "In the state Senate, Jeff has worked to address underlying disparities through major reforms including ... support for criminal justice reforms including expanding expunctions and removing the bans on SNAP benefits for those previously convicted of controlled substance charges."

As a State Senator, supported criminal justice reforms such as "expanding expunctions and removing the bans on SNAP benefits for those previously convicted of controlled substance charges."

- Supports comprehensive criminal justice reform such as improving reentry programs, reducing unnecessary police interactions, and minimizing mandatory minimums.
- Believes the criminal justice system fails to deliver fair justice, noting racial disparities and excessive incarceration for nonviolent offenses.
- Supports gun control and has proposed legislation to implement universal background checks and extreme risk protection orders and to prohibit the sale of bump stocks and similar devices.
- Supports more police transparency and access to dash camera and body camera footage.
- Supports police accountability and initiated an inquiry into the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) use of teargas against Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters in 2020.
- As a State Senator, supported criminal justice reforms such as "expanding expunctions and removing the bans on SNAP benefits for those previously convicted of controlled substance charges."

Believes rolling back capital and liquidity requirements for regional banks may have significantly contributed to issues like those at Silicon Valley Bank.

- Believes rolling back capital and liquidity requirements for regional banks may have significantly contributed to issues like those at Silicon Valley Bank.

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Jeff Jackson

Satana has served two terms as District Attorney. This means she was the district's chief prosecutor in legal cases.

Prior, Satana was criminal defense attorney in her hometown of Hamlet, North Carolina.

Prior, Satana was General Counsel for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. This means she provided legal services and counsel to the department.

- Satana has served two terms as District Attorney. This means she was the district's chief prosecutor in legal cases.
- Prior, Satana was criminal defense attorney in her hometown of Hamlet, North Carolina.
- Prior, Satana was General Counsel for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. This means she provided legal services and counsel to the department.

As District Attorney, she has "used the DA’s Office’s limited resources to concentrate on prosecuting violent crime and other serious offenses — rather than on low level offenses that do not threaten public safety and that clog our court system."

Wants to work with courts to confiscate guns that have been "used in crimes or that are present in homes experiencing domestic violence".

Wants to provide better services to victims, including "high quality, trauma informed services", reducing financial burdens for victims, and providing services to immigrants who are victims.

Promises to prioritize prosecution of violent crimes.

Wants to "increase resources to divert nonviolent crimes to mental health and drug court", to break the "cycle of crime"

Wants to reform the criminal justice system, including ending cash bail, mass incarceration, and increasing trust and transparency with the courts and DA offices.

- As District Attorney, she has "used the DA’s Office’s limited resources to concentrate on prosecuting violent crime and other serious offenses — rather than on low level offenses that do not threaten public safety and that clog our court system."
- Wants to work with courts to confiscate guns that have been "used in crimes or that are present in homes experiencing domestic violence".
- Wants to provide better services to victims, including "high quality, trauma informed services", reducing financial burdens for victims, and providing services to immigrants who are victims.
- Promises to prioritize prosecution of violent crimes.
- Wants to "increase resources to divert nonviolent crimes to mental health and drug court", to break the "cycle of crime"
- Wants to reform the criminal justice system, including ending cash bail, mass incarceration, and increasing trust and transparency with the courts and DA offices.

As of January 31, 2024, Satana Deberry’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Satana Deberry

- The Attorney General is the Head of the Department of Justice. They represent North Carolina’s government departments, agencies, and commissions in court. They usually do not prosecute specific crimes – that usually falls to the local District Attorneys.
- In addition to representing state agencies, the Attorney General can initiate court proceedings on behalf of North Carolina's public interest. For example, the Attorney General may sue corporations whose actions have harmed the public, such as when pharmaceutical companies were sued in response to the opioid crisis.
- The Attorney General provides legal opinions to the General Assembly, Governor, or other public officials. These opinions are usually the State’s interpretation of certain legal questions presented and do not have the full effect of law or court order.
- The Attorney General handles all criminal appeals from state trial courts. When a case gets appealed by trial court, the attorney general steps in to represent the state or agencies of the state. 
- The Attorney General is elected for a 4-year term. The position has no term limit.