2015 Joyce Stein Award

Greg Bower
2015 Joyce Stein Memorial Award Recipient

This year’s award recipient has been a leader in criminal justice issues in Idaho for over 40 years.

Greg Bower began his career in public service as a deputy in the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in 1975. He became Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor in July of 1977 and was elected Ada County Prosecuting Attorney in 1982, a position he held until late last year. Ada County is the most populated county in Idaho, and the Office is the largest in the state, filing over 3,000 felony cases annually.

Greg has been pioneer for crime victims in our community, establishing the first Victim Witness Unit in 1985, and the first Sexual Assault Unit in 1986. In 1994, through Ada County’s leadership a Domestic Violence Task Force was assembled. Uniform reports and officer protocols are helping to mark Ada County as a leader in the domestic violence area. In 1999, Greg also helped establish the Ada County Drug Court.

During the course of his leadership as Ada County Prosecutor, Greg had a vision to build a place where vulnerable victims of child abuse, domestic violence and adult sexual assault could find the services they so desperately need in one location. His vision was to provide a location where the criminal justice system, law enforcement and service providers would be able to wrap services around these vulnerable victims in one location so they did not have to travel all around our community to find services.

In early 2004, with the support of the Ada County Commissioners, Greg began a collaborative effort to make this vision a reality. He gained the support of various agencies and community partners, including the prosecuting and law enforcement agencies in Ada County, local hospitals, Health and Welfare, and many other community partners. These efforts culminated in the opening of the Ada County Family Advocacy Center & Education Services (FACES) in 2006. To date, FACES has served over 1,600 victims of child abuse, domestic violence and adult sexual assault.

Also thanks to Greg’s efforts and vision, vulnerable victims in Ada County now have the Ada County Grand Jury to hear their cases. This humane, victim-oriented system was developed by Greg as the first standing grand jury in the State of Idaho. The system protects victims of sexual assault from re-victimization on the witness stand and has resulted in hundreds of convictions that would not have been possible without the cooperation of these vulnerable victims.

Greg Bower and his mother at the renaming ceremony for FACES.

Greg was born and raised in Boise, Idaho. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Idaho in 1971, majoring in Business Finance. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence at the University of Utah in 1974. Bower graduated from the NDAA Trial Techniques College and the Executive Prosecutor Course of the National College of District Attorneys. He has served as a faculty member for numerous National College of District Attorney seminars, Idaho Prosecuting Attorney’s Association training seminars, the Idaho POST Academy and Boise State University Criminal Justice classes. Bower has been active in preparing and lobbying for legislation of interest to prosecutors and law enforcement in the Idaho State Legislature. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Idaho Prosecuting Attorney’s Association and is Vice President of the National District Attorney’s Association.

Greg’s dedication to making our community a better, safer place is commendable. His legacy is one of compassion, vision and leadership.

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