Resolution Commending the Honorable Diana Becton’s Accomplishments as District Attorney for Contra Costa County

DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the January 20, 2022 regular meeting.

Whereas, Diana Becton is the first African American woman to serve as District Attorney (DA) in Contra Costa County; and

Whereas, Diana Becton, as a Judge for 22 years in Contra Costa County, has handled criminal, civil and environmental prosecutions and lawsuits, and has overseen cases in our juvenile justice system, prior to her election as District Attorney; and

Whereas, Diana Becton is a champion of criminal justice reform, partnering with The Vera Institute of Justice (VERA). The partnership allowed the DA’s Office to take a critical look at its own decision-making by joining an exclusive approach aimed at ending racial and implicit bias in the justice system; and

Whereas, Diana Becton established the DA’s Office first Human Trafficking Unit to develop a collaborative and comprehensive approach to combat exploitation of persons for sex or labor, coordinate victim services, and provide education to raise community awareness; and 

Whereas, Diana Becton joined Code For America’s initiative, to dismiss thousands of old marijuana convictions. Roughly 2400 individuals received relief and will no longer have felony and/or misdemeanor convictions on their record; and

Whereas, Diana Becton formed a Reimagine Youth Justice Task Force that will study and make recommendations on the most effective ways to invest in our justice involving youth through restorative, community-based solutions instead of investing in youth prisons which have proven to result in worse outcomes for our children and families; and

Whereas, under Diana Becton’s leadership, Contra Costa County was selected to participate in the California County Resentencing Pilot Program. The program builds on AB 2942, which allows a district attorney to review old sentences and determine if the sentence still serves the interest of justice and the community; and

Whereas, Diana Becton created a new process to improve investigations by the DA’s Office for officer-involved shootings and held the first-ever training for the Investigative Unit on officer-involved shootings; and

Whereas, Diana Becton successfully prosecuted and led to a Concord resident’s conviction for four felony charges related to posting antisemitic murder threats online and illegally possessing an assault weapon; and

Whereas, Diana Becton successfully prosecuted the case against a Sheriff’s Deputy. This was not only a crime, but  tarnished the badge, and harmed the reputation of all the good, hard-working police officers that work in Contra Costa County; and

Whereas, Diana Becton’s Office successfully held a local steel company accountable for dumping toxic waste in our community and was the local steel company was forced to pay a $4 million fine; and

Whereas, Diana Becton’s Office continues to file felony charges on those caught in relation to the organized retail theft incident at Walnut Creek, coordinating with law enforcement partners throughout the Bay Area to identify perpetrators of organized retail theft;

Therefore, be it resolved, that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County commends District Attorney Diana Becton’s leadership which upholds our democratic values in her work for criminal justice reform, equity and fairness for all Contra Costa County’s residents; and

Therefore, be it further resolved, that this commendation be distributed to Democratic elected leaders and Democratic Clubs in Contra Costa County.

Submitted by María Alegría, Elected Delegate, District 1

Posted in resolutions.