POLICY INITIATIVES
Justice isn’t just about the resolution of individual cases. It is about the systems we construct and the practices we adopt.
You deserve to understand the priorities I will bring to the Hays County District Attorney’s Office.
Trust through transparency
I pledge to deal openly and honestly with the community at all times.
Importance of Integrity
I commit to ethical prosecution and decision-making, based solely on the facts and the law.
Power of Professionalism
I promise to never be satisfied with where we are today.
Trust through transparency
How many sexual assaults were dismissed in the last 2.5 years? Are we treating serious crime the same way across neighborhoods? Is race, ethnicity, gender, or immigration status making a difference in how we resolve cases? These questions deserve answers based on facts and data.
Right now, the Hays County District Attorney’s office operates like a black box. Information comes in, but very little goes back to the public. Trust has to go both ways, and you deserve to understand the safety decisions being made in our community.
How it works:
Implementation of the Prosecutorial Performance Indicators and the provision of a public dashboard
Honestly sharing where we are at as well as where we are going
Community engagement-twice yearly town hall meetings with the public
Proposed partnership with university data scientists
Regular communication with justice stakeholders
Quarterly internal data review followed by action plan and implementation
Commitment to data-driven decision-making
Expert stewardship of taxpayer dollars
Importance of Integrity
We have grown accustomed to leaders who take, who exploit their offices and the people around them for their own personal gain, money, luxury, status, and power, regardless of the price paid by others.
Sounds very similar to the criminals I have prosecuted throughout my career: selfishness above all else.
Enough is enough. Leaders should serve and sacrifice for the good of others. I promise to stand with the vulnerable and disenfranchised, to protect rather than exploit, and to serve others rather than myself.
Focus on ethical and equitable treatment across neighborhoods and people groups
Educating prosecutors on the forensic sciences to ensure accuracy in evidence presentation
How it works:
Personal contact with all victims to answer questions, provide status updates, and notifications of any potential case resolutions
Review of past serious felony rejections for potential filing
Systematizing discovery to guarantee compliance with ethical obligations
All plea offers based on the merits of the case not on the defense attorney handling the other side
Zero tolerance for intentional ethical violations
Creation of a conviction review unit
Power of Professionalism
Competence is an underrated skill right now. Everyday, there’s another example of someone holding a job they aren’t equipped to have and the consequences that flow from that.
Lack of competence and professionalism in the justice system results in criminals going free and innocent people incarcerated. It destroys the integrity of the system and our faith in it.
I’m committed to making justice work for everyone.
How it works:
Recruitment and retention of top people
Structured professional training for enhancing knowledge, skills, and performance
Streamlined intake and case preparation process so that “State’s ready” and not the cause of delays
Specialized units and vertical prosecution within those units
Improve partnerships with local law enforcement to identify and address the “crime drivers” in our communities
Substantive involvement of staff in decision-making and responsibility for their work, environment, and organizational health
Individualized assessment and development for employees based on consistent evaluation and feedback
Prosecutor promotions based on trial experience and performance quality
Supporting the continual raising of the bar among our partner agencies