Kamala Harris
"I was raised to be an independent woman, not the victim of anything"
About
Kamala Devi Harris is an American politician who is the vice president-elect of the United States and the junior United States senator from California. Prior to her election to the Senate, she served as the attorney general of California.
Birth
Born in Oakland, California
October 20, 1964
Her mother is a biologist from Tamil Nadu, India while her father is a Stanford professor
Education
Graduated from Howard in 1986 with a degree in political science and economics
Attended law school at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, admitted to the California Bar in June 1990.
Early Career
In 1990, Harris was hired as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County, California
In February 1998, San Francisco district attorney Terence Hallinan recruited Harris as an assistant district attorney. There, she became the chief of the Career Criminal Division, supervising five other attorneys
In August 2000, Harris took a new job at San Francisco City Hall, working for city attorney Louise Renne. Harris ran the Family and Children's Services Division representing child abuse and neglect cases.
Later Career
District Attorney of San Francisco (2004–2011)
Attorney General of California (2011–2017)
U.S. Senate (2017–present)
2020 presidential election
Legacy
Thurgood Marshall Award
100 Most Influential People in the World
Time Person of the Year
Non-violent crimes
In the summer of 2005, Harris created an environmental crimes unit.
In 2007, Harris and city attorney Dennis Herrera investigated San Francisco supervisor Ed Jew for violating residency requirements necessary to hold his supervisor position
Under Harris, the D.A.'s office obtained more than 1,900 convictions for marijuana offenses, including persons simultaneously convicted of marijuana offenses and more serious crimes
Violent crimes
From 2004 to 2006, Harris achieved an 87 percent conviction rate for homicides and a 90 percent conviction rate for all felony gun violations.
Harris created a Hate Crimes Unit, focusing on hate crimes against LGBT children and teens in schools
Harris also pushed for higher bail for criminal defendants involved in gun-related crimes, arguing that historically low bail encouraged outsiders to commit crimes in San Francisco.
In August 2007, state assemblyman Mark Leno introduced legislation to ban gun shows at the Cow Palace, joined by Harris, police chief Heather Fong, and mayor Gavin Newsom
Reform efforts
Harris has said life imprisonment without parole is a better and more cost-effective punishment than the death penalty, and has estimated that the resultant cost savings could pay for a thousand additional police officers in San Francisco alone
Death penalty
In 2004, Harris recruited civil rights activist Lateefah Simon to create the San Francisco Reentry Division. The flagship program was the Back on Track initiative, a first-of-its-kind reentry program for first-time nonviolent offenders aged 18–30.
Truancy initiative
In 2006, as part of an initiative to reduce the city's skyrocketing homicide rate, Harris led a city-wide effort to combat truancy for at-risk elementary school youth in San Francisco
Consumer protection
Fraud, waste, and abuse
Privacy rights
Criminal justice reform
Launch of Division of Recidivism Reduction and Re-Entry
Sentencing and prison inmate retention
LGBT rights
Opposing Prop 8
Gay and trans panic defense ban
Michelle-Lael B. Norsworthy v. Jeffrey Beard et. al.
Public safety
Anti-truancy efforts
Environmental protection
Law enforcement
Planned Parenthood
Sex crimes
Transnational criminal organizations