For 40 years, I have served as an Assistant District Attorney under seven District Attorneys, working in nearly every department. I bring the most relevant experience in this race and a deep understanding of how to lead the office efficiently and fairly. I also understand the data driving the need for reform and the best practices required to protect the people of Bexar County. My number one priority as District Attorney will be to keep our community safe.
People should not be jailed simply because they are poor and accused of a crime. Bail decisions should be driven by risk, not wealth—grounded in thoughtful assessment and appropriate supervision. A system built on fairness and public safety reduces inequality, preserves limited resources, and strengthens trust in our justice system.
The District Attorney has the ability and the responsibility to structure the intake of domestic violence cases around the needs of victims. By prioritizing early review and leveraging available grants to expand staffing, the office can ensure victims are contacted within 48 hours, informed of their rights, and connected to critical support services. A prompt, compassionate response not only supports survivors but it strengthens case outcomes and accountability.
I would strengthen staffing to ensure domestic violence cases are handled quickly and effectively, work closely with law enforcement to streamline case intake, and expand the number of victim advocates so survivors receive timely support, clear communication, and the resources they need.
In Bexar County, where court backlogs remain a serious challenge, a dedicated intake unit would streamline case review and ensure only well-investigated cases are filed. Early screening would reduce delays caused by incomplete evidence, save court resources, and move cases more efficiently. This approach benefits victims, defendants, and the community while strengthening confidence in the justice system.
I do not favor the use of the death penalty, but I recognize that it may be appropriate in the most extreme and rare cases. My approach is guided by the seriousness of the crime, the strength of the evidence, and the interests of justice—not politics. Any decision involving the death penalty must be made carefully, thoughtfully, and with the understanding that it carries irreversible consequences.
For nearly 25 years, I have served the DA’s Office. I’ve prosecuted thousands of cases at every level, and tried cases including murder, capital murder, domestic violence, and child abuse. As Family Violence Division Chief, I lead the largest division in the office - more than 57 prosecutors and 28 victim assistance personnel. In 2024, nearly 14,000 domestic violence and child abuse cases were filed with the division. I bring extensive courtroom, leadership, and community experience.
In Texas, bail reform is needed to protect public safety and reduce reoffending by high-risk and repeat offenders. Reform should utilize risk-based decisions when setting bail. It should uphold due process rights and apply consistent standards. It should also limit unnecessary pretrial detention for low-risk individuals, improve transparency and data, and balance public safety with fairness and constitutional rights.
For 18 years, I’ve specialized in family violence and child abuse. As D.A., we can reduce domestic violence by prioritizing victim safety and holding high-risk offenders accountable. Evidence-based prosecution, risk assessments, strict protective orders/bond/probation conditions, victim support, collaboration with community partners, addressing root causes, and data-driven strategies prevent future violence. As Chief, I’ve driven meaningful change in this area, but there is more work to do.
As District Attorney, my goals are to ensure public safety by holding violent and repeat offenders accountable; expand diversion and rehabilitation programs to address root causes and prevent future violence; enhance victim services and communication; maintain transparency and public engagement; increase mental health resources and training; and improve pay and staffing to retain experienced prosecutors.
The case backlog refers to cases awaiting prosecutorial review. The situation was caused largely by a nationwide shortage of prosecutors due to inadequate pay. Successful programs have already reduced the backlog by 40%. With recent hiring and fewer vacancies, it will continue to decline. The long-term solution is securing county funding to ensure competitive salaries and retain experienced prosecutors.
Decisions to seek the death penalty must be made carefully by an experienced D.A. with felony trial and victim advocacy experience. It may be appropriate in the most heinous cases, but fairness, bias, and the risk of error must be considered. Rigorous evidence review and careful judgment are essential to protect against wrongful convictions while ensuring accountability. It is and should be rarely used but considered an option in limited circumstances.
Shannon Locke is the only District Attorney candidate who is board-certified in criminal law. Only 1% of all attorneys are board certified and only board certified lawyers can claim to specialize in a particular area of the law. The people of Bexar County deserve the expertise of a board certified lawyer making the communities’ most important legal decisions. He has practiced extensively in State and Federal court for the past twenty years and has over 200 jury trials.
Bail Reform is necessary. A reformed system would focus on crafting conditions of release that would protect the public against harm. Many people, under the current system, spend too much time in jail because they cannot afford to bond out. This means that poor people are kept in jail not because of their crime but because they are poor. This is wrong and cuts against our fundamental principle of the presumption of innocence.
Every domestic violence case is a cry for help. The current backlog at the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office is a risk to public safety. When the system ignores those asking for help it puts them at risk for greater harm because they are less likely to ask for help. The DA’s office should then educate victims about the cycle of violence, the wheel of power and control, and try to dismantle abusive relationships.
We need to re-define how justice is sought. Instead of looking exclusively for convictions we must use every case as an opportunity to improve the community. This means we pay attention to victims, and ask them what they need while balancing those needs with protecting the community. This shift will make our community healthier safer and stronger. I will be the most transparent DA in the history of Bexar County and this transparency will help restore trust in the office.
Increased pre-trial diversion programs, and shifting the goal from a conviction-oriented prosecution to community-improvement prosecution will significantly reduce the backlog.
The death penalty should be reserved for the most extreme crimes but used sparingly. Any decision must meet the highest legal and ethical standards, with absolute certainty of guilt and respect for due process. When a case is worthy of the death penalty the community will decide whether death should be imposed in the form of a jury trial.
I have been an attorney for 19 years. I worked as a prosecutor for approximately 4 years. I am a criminal defense attorney, a civil litigator and have tried over 125 jury trials. I have practiced in Bexar County and several Texas counties. I work in State and Federal Court. I am and have been a Magistrate Judge for the past 3 years. I serve as the Chair of the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas, SA chapter and the Chair-Elect for the Hispanic Lawyers Section of the State Bar.
Bail is a topic that involves more than one party. The DA's office can recommend amounts but it is ultimately up to a judge to et the amount. Bail reform is needed across the board. Harsher crimes deserves higher bonds whereas lower level crimes do not. Bail needs to ensure the individual appears in court and is not unduly prejudiced but also keeps the community safe while pending the outcome of the case.
The DA's office needs to move faster on these cases. Victims need to be listened to. The system right now is devastating. I know a young lady who was choked by her boyfriend to the point she thought she was going to die. One section of the DA's office issued a protective order. The case should've been conflicted out of the family violence unit because the defense attorney is the husband of the chief of the family violence unit. Instead the case was dismissed. The victim remains terrified.
I will change the case intake system. I will add a part-time work program to assist the filing cases. I will set up a structure of support for all prosecutors. Policies will remain in place and given the opportunity to work unlike now. There will be no micromanaging. Every prosecutor will be trained so there is a uniform system in place. Supervisors will step in and help prosecutors who are in court and need an extra hand. Prosecutors will be empowered to do justice and not just convictions.
The addition of more staff members to contact witnesses and victims will assist prosecutors to make informed decisions on cases quicker. The DA's office and Judges need to sit down to pinpoint where the breakdown is following apart. Also, the part-time work program should have cases filed in a more timely fashion.
The death penalty is something that should be saved for the absolute most egregious cases. It is a decision not to be taken lightly.
I'm a mother of three, a St. Mary's Univ. alum & a lifelong Democrat. The DA's office has criminal & civil dIvisions: I have the most widespread experience as a 25 year lawyer in criminal & civil law; I'm a former elected appellate judge of 12 yrs, a visiting judge of one yr & a civil litigator of 12. During my service on the Fourth Court, I authored nearly 600 criminal opinions & 800 civil opinions & reviewed & served as a panel member on thousands more. I don't buckle to outside pressure.
Currently, bail guidelines are the most strict as applied to those who are repeat offenders and who have been accused of the most heinous crimes; these strict laws should remain in place as applied to these types of offenders. I do believe judges or magistrates should have the most discretion when setting bail, and they should weigh evidence and prosecutorial and defense arguments when determining the amount of bail.
It's imperative the DA's office fast track cases involving domestic violence instead of allowing these cases to go unprosecuted for months. Fast tracking these cases will allow victims to begin to heal & make the offenders understand they will be swiftly prosecuted according to the fullest extent of the law based on the evidence presented. Allowing these cases to go unprosecuted for months leads to meritless dismissals, ultimately sending a message to abusers they will not be held accountable.
I'll fast track domestic violence cases & change the path a case takes to improve efficiency & backlog. I'll implement a policy that prosecutors must resign if they run for office. Currently, over 5 are running while earning a salary funded by the county, adding to the backlog crisis. I'll change the office culture to encourage teamwork and cohesion between the different divisions. I'll strengthen the relationship w/ Commissioner's Court & repair the broken relationship w/ law enforcement.
Fair & judicious consideration of cases at each stage of prosecution is a must & the only way our justice system can improve, ultimately leading to justice for victims. Currently, the path each case takes through our system is not designed to prevent backlog. Thousands of cases are pending & justice has not been delivered to thousands of victims. I intend to meaningfully address each stage and thoughtfully change a case's path through the system to improve effectiveness & achieve justice.
I intend to follow state law. Texas law provides in rare and in the most heinous crimes, the death penalty can be considered by a jury. I would only seek it in the most serious cases where the facts & circumstances warrant it. I would never abuse or overuse this option, and this decision would not be made lightly. I intend to implement several tiers of review to make sure such a case outcome is always given the utmost respect, dignity, and care.
I bring over 22 years of experience as a trial lawyer, prosecuting child abuse, domestic violence, and human trafficking cases. I have led multidisciplinary efforts, trained law enforcement and CPS, served as an ad litem attorney, and as a part-time associate judge. My career reflects sound judgment, collaboration, compassion, and a commitment to justice and public safety.
My experience as a prosecutor, ad litem attorney, and associate judge shows that bail decisions must be based on risk to the safety of our community. We need to work towards reforms that address the unnecessary pretrial incarceration of nonviolent offenders, and make sure that judges have the appropriate information to be firm and decisive with those accused of the most serious and violent crimes.
The District Attorney must lead by putting victims at the center of domestic violence prosecution. With my experience both as a prosecutor and a victim’s advocate, I know reducing violence requires strong, consistent victim engagement, trained prosecutors with real discretion, and early case review. By improving trial skills, and connecting victims to real support, we can increase accountability and safety.
The District Attorney’s Office needs immediate, top-to-bottom reform. I would rebuild morale by restoring prosecutorial discretion, ending fear-based management, and creating strong training and mentorship programs pairing experienced felony prosecutors with new attorneys. I will actively recruit from law schools, bring back experienced prosecutors, and advocate for fair pay and support for staff.
The current backlog is driven by unchecked case intake, lab delays, and incomplete investigations. I would require 24-hour attorney review before cases are accepted, reject or return unready cases, and coordinate closely with law enforcement. By restructuring staff, using technology to manage evidence, and prioritizing serious and family violence cases, we can reduce backlog and restore efficiency and justice.
The death penalty should be reserved for the most heinous crimes and for offenders who present a continuing danger even in prison. With life without parole now available, death should be sought only when truly necessary. It is costly, delays closure for families, and has no proven deterrent effect. Any decision to seek death must be rare, carefully considered, and transparent to the community.
I bring more than 30 years of experience across every level of the criminal justice system as a former prosecutor, judge, adjunct law professor, and U.S. Army soldier. Since 2022, I have served as Executive Director of the Bexar County Managed Assigned Counsel Office, ensuring justice does not depend on wealth. I am the only candidate with experience leading large justice systems and implementing data driven reforms that strengthen fairness, effectiveness, and public trust.
Yes. Bail reform is necessary to ensure people are not jailed simply because they are poor. Pretrial decisions should be based on public safety and flight risk—not wealth. In Harris County, I worked closely with federal court monitors to address unconstitutional bail practices. Effective reform improves safety, reduces unnecessary detention, saves taxpayer dollars, and allows resources to focus on serious offenses through evidence-based assessments and effective pretrial services.
The District Attorney must put victim safety first in domestic violence cases. That means reviewing cases early, having victim coordinators reach out right away, and making sure safety concerns are addressed quickly by leadership. I support trauma-informed practices, enforcing protective orders, and moving cases forward without delay to reduce repeat violence, hold offenders accountable, and use public resources wisely.
I would focus on transparency, communication, and disciplined case management, with clear public charging and plea policies and internal systems that empower prosecutors and staff to resolve cases fairly and efficiently. Data-driven management would guide diversion, training, ethical oversight, and resource allocation. The goal is to restore trust and morale while reducing delays, controlling costs, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are used where they have the greatest impact on safety and justice
Reducing the backlog requires exceptional leadership and coordination across the justice system. Serious cases should be handled first, appropriate cases diverted early, and cases filed only when they are ready. Deadlines must be enforced and resources focused on where delays occur. Doing this shortens case timelines, reduces unnecessary jail time, saves taxpayer dollars, and protects both public safety and fairness.
The death penalty is the law in Texas, but it should be sought only in the rarest cases. That means when the law allows it, the evidence is overwhelming, and no other sentence can protect public safety. As District Attorney, I would require rigorous review, proportionality, and the highest ethical standards so these decisions are deliberate, transparent, and never influenced by politics.
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