Craig Watkins, Dallas County's district attorney, says he wants to make sure innocent people aren't wrongfully convicted by the criminal justice system.
Craig Watkins wants to expose the weaknesses of criminal justice, right the wrongs of Dallas County's justice system. He wants to be a voice speaking out for the wrongfully convicted.
And he is the district attorney of Dallas County.
Watkins has made waves since he took office. When he was elected in November 2006, he had never worked as a prosecutor. He was the first Democrat to head the DA's office in 20 years. And he is the first African-American district attorney in Texas.
Watkins, who just turned 40, turned even more heads in February, when he announced the DA's office would open courthouse files to the
Innocence Project of Texas. A group of law students will comb through more than 400 criminal cases, looking for convictions that deserve a second look -- cases that, with DNA testing, might be overturned.
This is not the normal work of a district attorney. The announcement grabbed national headlines. Texas Monthly
described it as being "like Richard Nixon inviting Woodward and Bernstein to the White House to go through some unreleased tapes." But Watkins, a Dallas native, has set out to change the way justice is delivered in Dallas County.
"I've seen the failures of the criminal justice system up close," Watkins says. "Being an African-American and an attorney, I got to see that."
Watkins hired Terri Moore as his second-in-command; Moore, a prosecutor and trial lawyer who made a name for herself in the Tarrant County DA's office, is the one who suggested DNA testing. And Watkins hired Fort Worth criminal defense attorney Mike Ware to head the new Conviction Integrity Unit, designed to investigate cases with DNA evidence.
Watkins, who believes in the death penalty, says he isn't against prosecuting the guilty. He just doesn't want to prosecute people who
aren't guilty. To Watkins, the district attorney's job is not to prosecute indiscriminately but to get it right.
"A lot of people are surprised that a district attorney would be concerned with this whole thing of innocence," he says. "But I'm surprised that they think that. ... what we're doing is really what a DA should do."
Other counties are keeping an eye on Dallas County, watching to see whether this new approach makes a difference. Just this month, Houston's Harris County announced a partnership with the Innocence Project of Texas, examining 180 cases that have questionable crime lab work.
If Watkins' philosophy spreads, Texas justice may never be the same.
Craig M. Watkins
Texas Bar License Number # 00791886
License Issued November 04, 1994
Dallas County District Attorney’s
133 N. INDUSTRIAL BLVD
Dallas, TX, 75207
Craig
M. Watkins
Age: 39
Party: Democrat
Hometown: Graduate of Carter High School in Dallas,Texas . He lives in
DeSoto, Texas with his family.
Professional background: Defense attorney and owner of Fair Park Bail Bonds. He worked as a municipal prosecutor and Dallas County public defender before starting his private law practice. He also owns a real estate title company.
Education and Certification History
TEXAS WESLEYAN COLLEGE WEBSITE:
http://www.txwes.edu/
| Law School |
Graduation
Date |
Degree Earned |
| Texas
Wesleyan University
|
12/1994 |
Doctor of
Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor (J.D.) |
Academic: Bachelor's degree, Prairie View A&M University, 1990; law
degree, Texas Wesleyan University, 1994
Family: Wife, Tanya, two sons and a daughter
Dallas D.A.’s Official Website:
http://www.dallasda.com/
My first year as
district attorney has been a great team victory, but our office has much
more work to do
06:24 AM CST on
Monday, January 7, 2008
As we embark upon a new year, I can't help but pause and reflect on
my first year as Dallas County district attorney. While most of the
media attention has focused on me and my philosophy on criminal justice,
all of the successes my office experienced in 2007 were the result of a
team effort. It's the 241 prosecutors, 72 investigators and 120 support
staff who deserve the credit for implementing changes. And we're just
getting started.
We came to office with the mantra of being
"smart on crime." This encompasses vigorously prosecuting and seeking
tough punishments for criminals who are found guilty of violent crimes.
It also means we employ a method of prosecution that has produced a
conviction rate of 98.5 percent over the last year.
A year ago, we partnered with the
Innocence Project of Texas to
review more than 400 old cases, many with requests for DNA testing that
had been opposed under the prior administration. To me, this move was a
no-brainer, considering Dallas County has the highest number of
wrongfully convicted people in the nation – but it has been touted as
bold and progressive, and it has garnered media attention
internationally.
Also, to ensure that these kinds of unforgivable mistakes are never
made again, at least on my watch, we established a conviction integrity
unit. In its first five months, it has already identified eight more
cases eligible for post-conviction DNA testing, as well as two more
people wrongfully convicted of sexual assault.
Being smart on crime means we look at ways to keep repeat offenders
off our streets, and we are doing so with a new and improved "impact
offender" program. In conjunction with the Dallas Police Department and
our elected district judges, we are targeting offenders who repeatedly
fail to stop their criminal behavior. These impact offenders are tried
within 60 days of indictment, and their convictions swiftly take them
off our streets, out of our county jail and into the state penitentiary,
thus creating a safer community and saving Dallas County taxpayers'
money.
Being smart on crime also means that we are seeking the necessary
resources to represent and protect citizens. We were fortunate to
receive approval in the 2008 budget for funds that will pay for a
prosecutor to handle cases of financial abuse against the elderly, which
is a growing problem in our community. We also received federal grants
to establish a gang unit and a sexual assault unit. The gang unit not
only focuses on prosecution, but also on discouraging young people from
getting involved in gangs. The sexual assault unit is supported by a
$1.48 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on
Violence Against Women. This funding allows us to finally have a
prosecutor, investigator and caseworker dedicated to handling sexual
assault crimes.
We also have established a unit that works directly with the county's
probation department, the constables and the Sheriff's Department to
locate probation absconders and get them back into custody.
In addition, we have implemented a new policy for first-time,
nonviolent misdemeanors. Offenders are now held accountable for their
actions – often youthful indiscretions – by doing community service and
completing educational courses. For drug cases, offenders must also pass
two drug tests within a specific period. When these requirements are
met, offenders' cases are dismissed, thus keeping marks off their
criminal records that would inevitably put their future employment at
risk. And as we know, when people can't find jobs, they typically move
on to more serious crimes.
These are just highlights of our many accomplishments, but we know we
have a long way to go. Our caseload per prosecutor still far exceeds the
standard for comparable offices, and we still sorely lack basic
resources to operate at full potential. Couple that with the fact that
criminals today are even more determined to exploit ever-changing
technology to break the law, and it's clear we face increasing
challenges to seek justice and protect Dallas County.
As we begin the new year, my staff and I look forward to doing even
more to improve the county's criminal justice system. To the citizens
served by the district attorney's office, I pledge to continue to lead
the charge of doing what's right, and I will carry the issue of public
safety to the Commissioners Court, the State Capitol and Washington,
D.C.
I promise to use this position not only to provide a safer Dallas
County, but a better Dallas County. Thank you for allowing me the honor
to represent you as your district attorney.
As the many cases of innocent people in Dallas jails and
Texas prisons come to the forefront, let's remember that not all
innocent people have DNA to set them free. What is Craig Watkins going
to do about people like Sharif?
CRAIG WATKINS - The
Reality
Is Craig Watkins Really The Best Man For The Task At Hand. Can He Change The History Of Dallas County Injustice???
"I don't care if it takes a lobotomy, I've got to get a
horrible mental image out of my mind. And I blame District Attorney
Craig Watkins for putting it there." ~Ken Mayfield
Here are some more Craig Watkins news articles we wanted you to
review.
County Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield voted against the DNA funding.
He has been a real ass from day one when D.A. Watkins was elected, but
Mayfield has a poor record while in office.
Some of our helpers on this end are searching for news articles
about Mayfield because he is responsible for the committee over jail
health care. When the Committee held it's meeting last year after the
Feds had visited the jail, Mayfield was on a trip in Hawaii.
Craig Watkins: Ganging Up on Crime
1) http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2007/09/craig_watkins_ganging_up_on_cr.php
In Dallas, Mr. Watkins has instructed prosecutors to be increasingly
selective when seeking prison sentences against young gang members who
may benefit from rehabilitation programs. In June, the Texas Legislature
approved $273 million for new prisons, but also $203 million for drug
treatment and rehabilitation programs.
“In Texas, we tried to lock gang members up and not worry about
them anymore,” Mr. Watkins said. “Now we want to lock them up, but
we want to fix them.”
2)
http://www.drummajorinstitute.org/events/unique_event.php?ID=49
On Monday, October 29, 2007 the
Drum Major Institute for Public Policy
hosted the latest installment of its **'Marketplace of Ideas' series featuring
Dallas District Attorney Craig Watkins at the Harvard Club
in New York City.
NOTE: The concept
of "marketplace of ideas" was not born in the twentieth
century: Making reference to the
University of Virginia Thomas Jefferson said, "This institution
will be based upon the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For
here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead,
nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat
it." (Letter, Jefferson to William Roscoe, 1820). More recently the
term has come into use by educators in higher education who have
linked the concept to academic freedom.
Elected in 2006, Craig Watkins is the
first African-American District Attorney in the State of Texas. Watkins has
opened the criminal files of hundred of local convicts for review, ordering
DNA testing for those who may have been wrongfully convicted.
At the same time, Watkins has reformed procedures for eyewitnesses
identifying criminal suspects so that innocent people are less likely to be
positively identified. In his brief tenure as District Attorney, Watkins has
already assisted with the exonerations of two wrongfully convicted men
through his partnership with the Innocence Project of Texas.
NOTE: As of April 03, 2008 the
Dallas D.A.'s Office still "refuses" to open its files to Lakeith
Amir-Sharif's defense attorneys Dianne K. Jones and Larry Jarrett. Why, if
D.A. Watkins has an "open files" policy, would he refuse to allow access to
defense attorneys?
3) Very interesting story:
http://www.dallas.org/node/127
So what does all of this have to do with District Attorney candidate
Craig Watkins?
Many who read this website know I have "a little thing" (to borrow someone
else's words) for Dallas School Board member Ron Price!
Ron and I have a difference of opinion.
I feel, for instance, it is inappropriate for a domestic violence
convict (which Ron is) to serve on a school board--or hold any other
elected office for that matter (see Ron Price's police record:
arrest report,
complaint,
conviction 1, and
conviction 2).
I feel it is inappropriate for a school board member to lie to the kids he
serves telling them at their graduation that he "grew up in Spanish Harlem"
and "didn't speak English" until he was "11 years old" when he "moved to the
State of Texas" (watch
the video of Ron saying this).
Ron has supporters who disagree, and I respect that.
But when I heard that Ron was going to speak at a major political forum on
August 13, I wanted to go and hear what he had to say.
Everyone who is anyone in South Dallas politics (and Dallas politics, I
might add) was there including Craig Watkins.
Craig Watkins is an interesting guy. He's a pleasant, good-looking,
well-educated, soft-spoken attorney.
I was very close to voting for him last election. The Craig Watkins I'd
come to believe in was an honest, fair, hardworking individual who wanted to
move Dallas forward as its top elected law enforcement officer.
Or so I thought.
I found an opportunity to meet Craig
Watkins, introduced myself (he already knew who I was for which I was truly
flattered), and struck up a pleasant conversation. The subject eventually
turned to Ron Price as we walked out the door to the parking lot.
I
remember listing numerous concerns and then saying, "Craig, you're a
law-and-order sort of guy. This can't possibly sit right with you."
I'll never forget his reply.
He lowered his voice and said: "Look, when you attack one of us, you
attack all of us." Then he walked away.
I was completely taken
aback. He could have hit me with a baseball bat and left less of an
impression.
It was then I realized that I had completely misread Craig
Watkins.
4. http://www.dallas.org/node/330
District Attorney Responds to Dallas Morning News
News 2007-08-13
17:43 by Dallas County
District Attorney Craig Watkins
In response to the editorial, “
One,
Two, 68, 483: County’s wishful budgeting doesn’t add up
,” published in the Dallas Morning News on August 3, 2007, I would like
to take this opportunity to inform the citizens of Dallas County of the
critical staffing needs at the District Attorney’s Office and why the 68
requested positions are important.
First of all, the budget process is long and tedious. In January of
2007, we began evaluating the District Attorney's office and formulating
a plan that would adequately provide protection for the citizens of
Dallas County. During the evaluation process, we analyzed section by
section and reviewed the number of pending cases and the number of
prosecutors responsible for handling those cases.
5.
http://www.dallas.org/node/132
Documents, including his resume and work history, prove that a
D.A. candidate Craig Watkins lied on his resume
and campaign literature furnished to voters.
Instead of working as a prosecutor or even an "intern
prosecutor," as Watkins is currently claiming, records show he
was a part time intern from May, 1993 through August, 1993.
Watkins didn't earn his
law license until November, 1994--required
credentials to be a prosecutor.
The following were documents
provided to Dallas.Org by the
Tarrant County District Attorney's
office.
This is Watkins employment record for the 4 months he worked
for the Tarrant County D.A.'s office. Records clearly label
Watkins as "non-attorney personnel." It also shows he
worked for $8.65 an hour, part time, as an intern. Watkins was
not qualified to be a prosecutor because he didn't earn his law
license until almost a year and a half later.
The following is Watkins resume furnished to the Tarrant County D.A.'s office. It shows him, at the time, enrolled in Texas Wesleyan School of Law classified as a 3rd year law student. An important question raised by this campaign is: "did Watkins misrepresent his legal credentials?" If so, is this an offense against the ethics of the Texas Bar?
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Check with
Dallas.Org for rapid developments!
1.
Dallas County D.A. Under Fire for Crashing
Car
A.)
http://cbs11tv.com/local/Dallas.District.Attorney.2.676093.html
B.) Dallas County DA Craig Watkins' vehicle use
won't be questioned
08:17 AM CDT on Wednesday, March 26, 2008
From staff reports
Dallas County commissioners decided Tuesday not to send District Attorney Craig
Watkins a letter questioning him about his use of county vehicles.
A letter was drafted and placed on Tuesday's consent agenda, but Commissioner
John Wiley Price pulled it for discussion in closed session. Mr. Price said he
would not sign it, calling it "political nonsense."
Mr. Watkins' use of a county car had come under scrutiny after commissioners
learned he had been involved in at least two separate fender benders while
driving it. They also expressed concern because Mr. Watkins receives a $658
monthly car allowance in lieu of being assigned a county car.
Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield had asked that a letter be drawn up and has been
pushing for an independent investigation of Mr. Watkins' actions.
Kevin Krause -Dallas News Reporter
2.) Watkins Sworn In As Dallas County DA, A Texas First
For An African-American
http://cbs11tv.com/video/?id=15186@ktvt.dayport.com
3.)
Channel - 8 Exposes Watkins dubious financial
history
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa060222_mo_craigwatkins.53c036a8.html
A News 8 investigation has raised serious financial questions about a major primary candidate for Dallas district attorney, Craig Watkins.
The probe looked into a history of late payments, liens, lawsuits and close to $100,000 in delinquent personal income taxes...
4.)
Texas state bar suspends Dallas DA Craig
Watkins' license
Texas state bar suspends Dallas DA Craig Watkins' license
07:56 PM CST on Thursday, December 27, 2007
By KEVIN KRAUSE / The Dallas Morning News
kkrause@dallasnews.com
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/122807dnmetwatkins.59450853.html
Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins' law license was suspended by the state bar for nearly two weeks because he had not paid his annual dues.
The license was reinstated Thursday after Mr. Watkins learned of the suspension and paid the full amount, including penalties, by credit card.
Mr. Watkins apologized for the lapse and said it won't affect any criminal cases. But he was still under the impression as of Thursday afternoon that he had paid his annual bar dues back in September.
5.) For Dallas, New Prosecutor Means an End to
the Old Ways (Or Does It?)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/03/us/03dallas.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
DALLAS — Craig Watkins calls himself a different kind of prosecutor.
Allison V. Smith for The New York Times
“I lock them up if they’re guilty,” said Mr. Watkins, the new Dallas
County district attorney.
That distinction has sometimes been lost here in the nation’s
highest-crime big city. Since 2001, 13 prisoners were found through DNA evidence
to have been wrongfully convicted in Dallas County after serving a total of 185
years behind bars. Only Illinois and New York, besides Texas, have had more
convictions overturned by genetic testing than Dallas County, a fact
attributable in part to evidence retained to assure reconviction in the event of
a successful appeal.
Now, many more DNA exonerations could be in store
under a review of more than 400 other cases ordered
by Mr. Watkins, 39, who made history last November by eking out a second-try victory in a Democratic landslide to become Texas’s first black district attorney...
6.) Dallas DA to Review Decades of Convictions
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7565610
by
Wade Goodwyn
Listen Now
[4 min 12 sec]
add to playlist
Morning Edition,
February 23, 2007 · Dallas' new district attorney, Craig Watkins, says he will
open his files to the Innocence Project and work with the group to examine
hundreds of cases over the past 30 years. The goal is to see whether DNA tests
might reveal wrongful convictions.
The move reflects the magnitude of the change that has
occurred in the Dallas DA's office over the last six weeks. Watkins was elected
the first black district attorney in Texas.
"It's a whole different world in the Dallas criminal
justice system," says defense attorney Gary Udashen. "It is a world where if a
client of ours is innocent, we feel like there's openness in the District
Attorney's office to hear what we have say, to look at what we have to show
them, where we don't anticipate resistance every step of the way."
Funding approved for
Dallas County District Attorney's DNA review team
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/040208dnmetdnateam.1fd8a524.html
01:14 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 1, 2008
By KEVIN KRAUSE / The Dallas
Morning News
kkrause@dallasnews.com
Dallas County will pay $832,392 over the next two
years for the salaries of the two attorneys, investigator and paralegal on Mr.
Watkins’ conviction integrity team that was formed last year. Commissioners
voted 3-1 to continue the funding, with Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield casting
the lone dissenting vote. County Judge Jim Foster was absent.
A grant from the Justice, Equality, Human Dignity
and Tolerance Foundation will contribute $457,600 toward post-conviction DNA
testing. The foundation had stipulated that the grant money would be available
only if the county continued funding the four conviction integrity unit
positions.
The Innocence Project of Texas is contributing
$36,000.
NOTE: The recent news of funding for the DA's DNA review team is wonderful news "for those defendants/prisoners with charges involving DNA samples" but what about the majority of cases filed and prosecuted(e.g.domestic violence,drug offenses,theft/fraud)in Dallas County that do not have DNA samples? The specific message we at Making The Walls Transparent want to convey is that DNA cases aren't the only ones where unjust prosecutions and wrongful convictions occur. Sexual assault/rape, and murder make up a small percentage of cases filed and prosecuted annually .Unlike his well publicized efforts to correct wrongful convictions invovlving DNA, to date D.A. Watkins has mentioned "NOTHING" as to how he plans to prevent unjust prosecution and worngful convictions in non-DNA cases? Justice demands that D.A. Watkins, his staff and his supporters do so.
UNJUST PROSECUTIONS AND WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS IN TEXAS ARE COSTING TAXPAYERS MILLIONS EACH YEAR!
Since Nov.2004, over $250,000.00 has been spent on Sharif's unethical prosecution
State of Texas v. Lakeith Raqib Amir-Sharif
