This month, we’d like to congratulate and welcome Jan Bennetts as our new Board President! Although she has served on our board since 2014, she now serves as president of our board of directors. We’d like to highlight some of the reasons we are so grateful that Jan gives her personal time to help provide oversight and vision to the Women’s and Children’s Alliance as we work toward a community where everyone can thrive in safe, healthy relationships.
An Idaho native, Jan received her undergraduate degree from University of Idaho, afterwards she attended Willamette University College of Law where she received her Juris Doctorate. She has served at the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office since 1994. In 2014, she was unanimously selected to succeed Greg Bower as Ada County Prosecutor and finish his term in office. She ran for the office officially in 2016 and holds the position today. She is the first woman to serve in this position and has dedicated her career to protect victims of violent crime.
Early in Jan’s career as a deputy prosecutor, she was greatly impacted by several domestic violence cases she handled. Working with domestic violence victims motivated Jan to work to improve the criminal justice system’s response to domestic violence not only to hold offenders accountable but to provide victims with support and resources. This drives her passion to seek justice for victims of violent crime. Jan helped conceptualize and create FACES of Hope Victim Center, a one-stop triage center for victims of violent crime and abuse. She serves on their board of directors as a non-voting member.
“The work of a prosecutor is first and foremost to seek justice. It is my duty and responsibility to uphold the law, hold offenders accountable and protect our community. I am dedicated to safeguarding the constitutional and statutory rights of crime victims… Prosecutors must react to crime, but finding ways to take a proactive approach to crime prevention is one of my goals,” she said.
To help achieve this active approach on crime, Jan takes time to connect with the community. She has led trainings with law enforcement officers on how to treat victims of violent crime. She even led the creation of the Domestic Violence Unit at the Prosecutor’s Office before she became Prosecutor.
“I have engaged with constituents in a number of ways from attending or speaking at larger community events; for example, the Child Abuse Prevention Rally, MADD’s first annual National Day of Remembrance, Ada County Government Open House and the Boise Metro Chamber to smaller forums where I have connected with people on a more personal level,” Jan said. Jan has been recognized by the National District Attorneys Association, the Idaho Victim Witness Association and the Idaho Business Review. These diverse organizations highlight her versatility and dedication to survivors of violence.
We are humbled and grateful to have Jan dedicate her personal time to serve the Women’s and Children’s Alliance in this capacity.
