Report on Criminal Proceedings Against Law Enforcement Officer and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

This report details the criminal charges filed against Gresham Police Officer Hector Carranza. The case highlights critical intersections with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). The indictment and subsequent legal process serve as a key indicator of institutional accountability and the commitment to the rule of law.

2.0 Incident Details and Charges

A veteran officer from the Gresham Police Department, Hector Carranza, is facing 56 criminal charges pertaining to child sexual abuse. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office has confirmed his indictment and detention.

2.1 List of Charges

The charges filed against Officer Carranza are extensive and include the following:

• Four counts of third-degree rape
• Twelve counts of third-degree sodomy
• Five counts of second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse
• Five counts of luring a minor
• One count of attempting to use a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct

Prosecutors have noted that the alleged crimes were not committed in the context of his official duties.

3.0 Institutional Response and Alignment with SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The response from judicial and law enforcement bodies underscores a commitment to SDG 16, which aims to build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

3.1 Judicial Accountability

The District Attorney’s Office affirmed the principle of universal accountability. District Attorney Nathan Vasquez stated, “Nobody is above the law. When a police officer breaks it, we have a duty to hold them accountable just like anyone else.” This action directly supports SDG Target 16.3, which promotes the rule of law at national and international levels and ensures equal access to justice for all.

3.2 Law Enforcement Agency Actions

The Gresham Police Department, where Carranza has been employed since 2014, has taken initial steps toward institutional accountability, aligning with SDG Target 16.6 (develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions).

1. Officer Carranza was placed on leave in November upon the initiation of the investigation.
2. The department issued a statement confirming Carranza remains on leave pending the outcomes of the criminal and internal reviews.
3. The agency reiterated its core values of service and integrity, classifying any violation by an employee as a serious matter.

4.0 Broader Implications for Sustainable Development

This case has significant implications beyond institutional justice, touching upon fundamental goals for societal well-being and equality.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality: The charges relate to child sexual abuse, a form of violence that critically undermines SDG Target 5.2, which calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and children. Ensuring justice in such cases is essential for protecting vulnerable populations and advancing equality.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The profound and lasting trauma associated with child abuse directly contravenes SDG Target 3.4, which seeks to promote mental health and well-being. The legal process is a necessary component of addressing the harm and supporting the victim’s long-term health.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article’s core subject is a criminal justice issue, directly aligning with SDG 16. It details the indictment of a police officer for serious crimes, the response from the District Attorney’s office, and the actions of the police department. The statement, “Nobody is above the law,” District Attorney Nathan Vasquez said in a statement. “When a police officer breaks it, we have a duty to hold them accountable just like anyone else,” directly speaks to the goal of ensuring justice and accountability within institutions.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• This goal includes the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls. The article discusses charges of “child sexual abuse,” “third degree rape,” and “third degree sodomy.” These acts represent extreme forms of violence and sexual exploitation, which are key concerns of SDG 5.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children. This is the most directly relevant target. The article explicitly states the officer is “facing 56 criminal charges related to child sexual abuse,” including “encouraging child sexual abuse,” “luring a minor,” and attempting to “use a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct.”
• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. The article demonstrates this target in action. The involvement of the “Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office,” the filing of criminal charges, and the statement emphasizing that a police officer will be held “accountable just like anyone else” all point to the application of the rule of law.
• Target 16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms. While not about financial corruption, the alleged actions of a police officer represent a profound abuse of power and a violation of public trust. The Gresham police statement that it “values service and integrity, and that any violation of those values by an employee is serious” highlights the importance of maintaining non-corrupt and accountable institutions.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. The crimes alleged in the article, such as “rape,” “sodomy,” and “child sexual abuse,” are forms of sexual violence and exploitation that this target aims to eliminate. The article describes a specific instance of the problem that this target addresses.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 16

• Implied Indicator for Target 16.2 (Indicator 16.2.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age and form of exploitation): The article does not provide statistics, but it describes a specific case of child sexual exploitation (“use a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct,” “luring a minor”). Each such documented case contributes to the data needed for this indicator.
• Implied Indicator for Target 16.2 (Indicator 16.2.3: Proportion of young women and men aged 18-29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18): The case of “child sexual abuse” described in the article is an example of the incidents that this indicator is designed to measure. The legal proceedings are a formal mechanism for recording such instances of violence.
• Implied Indicator for Target 16.3 (Indicator 16.3.2: Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population): The article mentions that the officer “is currently being held at the Clackamas County Jail” and “remains on leave pending the completion of the criminal process.” This refers to the status of an unsentenced detainee, which is the subject of this indicator.

Indicators for SDG 5

• Implied Indicator for Target 5.2 (Indicator 5.2.2: Proportion of women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to sexual violence by persons other than an intimate partner in the previous 12 months): The charges of “rape” and “sodomy” against a minor by a police officer (a person other than an intimate partner) are a direct example of the type of violence this indicator tracks. The indictment itself is a formal record of such an event.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: opb.org