Leavitt believes that he can help unite prosecutors throughout the country, in some of the innovations that is creating change in Utah County. Some of those changes include an innovations in a pre-filing diversion program, a screening process that focuses the direction of a case from the start, and not jailing non-violent offenders. We are working to put the violent and dangerous in jail. We look for solutions and ways to work with people that are designed to not make criminals out of nonviolent personal use drug offenders, providing them an opportunity to restart their lives.

“90 percent of offenders are not violent people. While some just need to be locked up, the vast majority of offenders need different options for punishment and rehabilitation.” Leavitt is one of six elected American prosecutors identified by the American Bar Association who is changing the paradigms in criminal justice). Leavitt is passionate about working to reduce the system’s revolving door of recidivism by finding different solutions. “You can’t prosecute your way out of addiction. You can’t jail your way out of addiction.”