Travis D.A.

Located in Austin, the capital of Texas, the District Attorney’s Office represents the state and victims of crime in the prosecution of felony and juvenile offenses committed in Travis County. The Office also represents the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in civil suits affecting parental rights. A state-funded division of the Office investigates and prosecutes crimes related to the operation of state government, motor fuels tax fraud and insurance fraud.

The District Attorney’s office prosecutes over 10,000 felony offenders each year.  During her first term, Rosemary’s highest priority has been the prosecution of violent offenders, making sure Austin remains one of the safest cities in the nation and giving crime victims a voice in court.

Of equal importance is maintaining a balanced system of justice that creates opportunities for individuals who want to avoid recidivism, a life of drugs and incarceration.  The longstanding Drug Court has helped over 3000 citizens with their drug and alcohol addictions, giving them a chance to avoid a criminal history upon completion.  Rosemary has also established new programs, such as the Deferred Prosecution program, aimed at giving worthy first offenders a second chance.  Her Mental Health Team has expedited the cases of over 200 individuals who need mental health services and treatment.  This team is now also reviewing cases involving veterans, many of whom are eligible for Veterans Administration services.  Rosemary’s newly funded Environmental Prosecution attorney has over 50 cases in Travis and other counties in the state.   This effort has targeted industrial polluters and has collected nearly 3 million dollars in fines for Travis County coffers. 

During her first term, Rosemary has formed a partnership with the Innocence Project at the University of Texas School of Law.  The Innocence Clinic works with the District Attorney’s office on post-conviction issues such as requests for DNA testing.  Her office is also engaged in an eyewitness identification field study, employing computer-assisted photo displays for crime victims.  This project is aimed at reducing erroneous eyewitness identification that can lead to wrongful conviction.

Along with other elected officials, Rosemary is sponsoring a new Hate Crimes Task Force.  This large and diverse Task Force is working with community representatives to educate citizens about prejudice, reach out to hate crime victims and their communities, and improve the law enforcement response when hate crimes do occur.