District Attorney for Dallas County
Craig Watkins was inaugurated on January 1, 2007, as the Criminal District Attorney (DA) for Dallas County, Texas. He is the first African American elected to that position in Texas. His "smart on crime" philosophy engages innovative strategies throughout the prosecutorial process and seeks to address the root causes of why offenders commit crime. DA Watkins' interest in conviction integrity led to partnering with the Innocence Project of Texas to aid the wrongfully convicted and ultimately creating the first-ever Conviction Integrity Unit within the District Attorney's office.
A native of Dallas County, DA Watkins was educated in the local public school system, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Prairie View A&M University and a Juris Doctorate from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. He is a member of Friendship-West Baptist Church, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. and Prairie View A&M University Alumni Association, and is affiliated with several professional and civic organizations. DA Watkins has received numerous honors and awards for his outstanding accomplishments in the community from an array of organizations and groups, including being named 2008's "Texan of the Year" by the Dallas Morning News. DA Watkins' innovative strategies have garnered him local, national and international media attention, including from 60 Minutes, CNN, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post.
