Jared Olson
Every day millions of people get behind the wheels of their cars and drive without a thought about the potential consequences of this daily routine. Each year traffic crashes claim close to 50,000 deaths in the United States and injure thousands more.1 What’s worse is that many of these tragedies could have been easily prevented.
Prosecutors understand the importance of traffic safety and fight vigorously in court to remove from the streets and highways those individuals who present a danger to you and your families. Traffic related prosecutions, particularly DUI and DUI-fatalities, are among the most complicated cases to handle, and prosecutors face substantial traffic caseloads, specifically those involving alcohol and/or drugs.2 However, to properly identify, investigate and prosecute those who are committing these crimes, prosecutors and law enforcement need the proper training and tools, along with the most up-to-date and state-of-the-art techniques, in combating traffic cases. As a result, 37 states currently employ a Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor (TSRP), responsible for providing specialized training, education and technical assistance to prosecutors and law enforcement throughout their respective states.
Jared Olson, Idaho’s first TSRP, is one of those dedicated prosecutors who has pledged his career to improving traffic safety. As a TSRP, Olson works for the Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association (IPAA) and serves as a liaison between Idaho prosecutors, judiciary, law enforcement and other stakeholders in the fight against impaired driving. He provides critical support and instruction to enhance the capabilities of Idaho’s prosecutors to effectively prosecute traffic safety violations.
The ability to contribute to the larger picture of reducing traffic-related incidences is one of the driving forces behind Olson’s commitment to his work. As a TSRP, Olson has an opportunity to combat this crime on a larger scale by providing daily assistance to prosecutors and law enforcement. “I have made countless connections as a TSRP. I am a one-stop shop for those who need assistance and my ability to provide that support and focus on a single area of prosecution that I love, is extremely rewarding,” he said.
He also relishes the opportunities to work with new officers and prosecutors. “Most of them become far better prosecutors and officers than I will ever personally achieve, but the greatest reward is to watch and be part of this process,” he explained.
Olson’s passion for his work would lead readers to assume he had a long-time dream of becoming a prosecutor. While it is true he had goals of being an integral part of the criminal justice system, prosecution was never in Olson’s sights. “I never thought I would be a prosecutor,” he said, “I wanted to be a law enforcement officer.” He even attended law school with the intention of using his degree in federal law enforcement rather than in the practice of law. Getting involved in federal law enforcement is extremely complicated, so with his family in mind, he decided on a prosecutorial career. “Being a part of the criminal justice system was most important to me, and now I can’t think of anything more exciting or rewarding than prosecution. I don’t know why anyone does anything else with their law degree,” he said.
Olson began his career in criminal justice as an emergency dispatcher while in college and continued his work in law enforcement as an officer (and eventually detective) for the Weber State University Police Department in Ogden, Utah, where he received his Bachelor’s degree. Olson’s prosecutorial career was born in Idaho where he worked as a prosecutor in the Bannock County Prosecutor’s Office with only nine other assistant prosecutors. As an assistant prosecutor, Olson’s caseload included both felonies and misdemeanors and immediately before accepting the TSRP position, he served as the assistant chief criminal deputy and as a member of the Bannock County drug court team. Despite his diverse caseload, Olson found his niche in trying DUI cases and moved into a full-time felony drug and DUI caseload.
“As a police officer, DUI cases were cumbersome. They involved a tremendous amount of paperwork and were tedious cases to book. As a prosecutor, though, DUI cases became complicated in an interesting way. They require you to think critically and often end up in trial more often than any other type of case. Trying DUI cases was a good way to keep my trial skills sharp,” he explained.
Olson only served as an assistant prosecutor for two years before accepting the position as Idaho’s TSRP. Despite his short career, he is considered a successful and well-respected prosecutor. “Jared was young when he started with Bannock County, but you would never have known it. He had a great vision for his work, he was always prepared, he bounded with energy and, most importantly, he always did the right thing, even when it wasn’t to his benefit as a prosecutor,” said Judge N. Randy Smith, United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit and former Idaho district judge. Even those he prosecutes have kind words for this hard-working prosecutor. One elderly gentleman who Olson prosecuted once said to him, “Throughout this whole process you treated me fairly—I trust you.”
Considering Olson’s potential to establish a legendary prosecutorial career, it is a wonder he left to become a TSRP. He initially heard about the TSRP program at an NDAA course at the Ernest F. Hollings National Advocacy Center. Most of the faculty members were TSRPs and they inspired him to apply for the position in Idaho. His passion for the subject matter was also a driving force behind his decision to leave the prosecutor’s office. Last year Idaho, with a population of 2.5 million, saw 276 traffic fatalities, 110 of which were attributed to alcohol.
“If there were 110 murders in Idaho last year, we would be facing a huge public outcry, yet deaths resulting from DUIs are accepted as ‘the norm.’ Prosecutors have an opportunity and a responsibility to respond more seriously to these crimes,” he said. As a TSRP, Olson can reach a large population of prosecutors to provide them with the knowledge and skills they need to do just that—seriously respond to traffic crimes.
If his current level of professionalism is not enough—Olson is working to complete his Masters in Criminal Justice by spring of this year. When he isn’t working or studying, Olson enjoys hiking, skiing and spending time with his wife and three children.
To new prosecutors he lends this piece of advice: “Do the right thing, to the right people, for the right reason.” He attributes these words of wisdom to Clay Abbott, a fellow TSRP from Texas. “I believe this really separates prosecutors from all other lawyers,” he explained, “As a prosecutor, I represent society, citizens of the State of Idaho, and I love being able to serve by doing the right thing for the right reasons, even when it is difficult.” Jared Olson, while relatively new to the prosecutorial community has truly established himself as a dedicated, committed public servant.
1 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis (2006). Traffic Safety Facts 2006. U.S. Department of Transportation. Washington, DC.
2 Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor’s Manual. 2007. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. DTNH22-98-H-05881.
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