Restore ethics and integrity to the District Attorney’s Office
The District Attorney’s job is to enforce the law. However, first the D.A. must obey the law. I will obey the law and ensure that everyone who works in the D.A.’s Office follows the law. 
The District Attorney’s Office cannot function unless the public has confidence in its decisions and actions.  We must restore that confidence.  We must restore good judgment and ensure that the law is applied to everyone with due process.

Prosecute criminals vigorously and fairly
I have spent a career enforcing the law and protecting the community. As District Attorney to protect the community, I will ensure that those who break the law will be prosecuted aggressively, but fairly. We shouldn’t cheat to win.
 I am committed to leading an office that aggressively prosecutes criminals and repeat offenders, while understanding also that simply arrest, prosecution and confinement are not enough.  We must not be soft on crime, but we must utilize more of today’s efficient and effective alternative methods to punish and hold offenders accountable, particularly our juvenile offenders.

Eliminate trials by ambush – no more misuse of power or abuse of discretion
The days of winning at all cost, even at the cost of justice, will end. Prosecutors will no longer work to eliminate people from juries because of their race or religion.  An open file procedure will be implemented to ensure that all parties will have access to evidence and the power of this office is not used to deny any citizen a fair trial.  The District Attorney’s Office should not be about notches on a belt or a won-loss record; it should be about pursuit of the truth.

 Establish a Professional Standards and Human Resources Division
The District Attorney’s Office personnel must follow the highest professional standards. Much needed, longer term institutionalized organizational changes require written rules and operating procedures, as well as recruitment, training, retention, and evaluation guidelines. Also, a formal process must be implemented to receive and resolve citizens’ and employees’ complaints and concerns.

Work with the community to prevent and reduce crime
The District Attorney must use the authority of the prosecutor’s office to make neighborhoods safer and improve the quality of life. As District Attorney, I will be visible and accessible to all communities. I and my staff will work to educate citizens about our criminal justice process and get more of them involved as witnesses and informed jurors. [Create a Community Advisory Board and District Attorney’s Council of Teen Advisors]

The District Attorney’s Office must broaden its mission to include the prevention and reduction of crime.  To do that, prosecutors must go out into the community to understand the needs of the people they serve. They must lend their expertise to problem-solving collaborations with the public and private sector organizations.

Create a Conviction Integrity Unit
When an innocent person is sent to prison, a guilty person walks free and the public is at risk.  The Conviction Integrity Unit will oversee the post-conviction review of cases in accordance with the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 64 (Motion for Forensic DNA Testing). Additionally, the Unit will investigate and prosecute old cases where evidence identifies different or additional perpetrators.
 I will also pursue the creation of a truly independent crime lab, administered by a third party, to eliminate all possibility of conflict of interest. The District Attorney must lead the way to ensure that justice is served and prevent irreparable harm when possible.
 
Create a special DWI Prosecution Squad
Harris County has the highest DWI-fatality rate in the country. A group of specially selected and trained prosecutors will be assigned to focus efforts, collaborations and resources toward DWI prevention and prosecution strategies.

Pursue the creation of Teen Courts in Justice of the Peace precincts
Involving teens in the handling of juvenile Class C misdemeanor cases in JP Courts not only brings justice to the community, it is educational and rewarding for teens. Justice of the Peace Courts are de-centralized and reduce the burden of parents traveling downtown to deal with their children’s problem. Also, community-based resources and services can be taken advantage of easier to assist with counseling, restitution, community service, rehabilitation efforts, etc.