As San Joaquin County grows, the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office is growing along with it.
While growth is exploding in the South County thanks to hot housing markets in Tracy, Lathrop, and Manteca, the San Joaquin County District Attorneys office announced last week that five new deputy district attorneys were sworn in to join the administration.
And three of them already have experience with the organization.
According to a release from the DA’s office, three of the new additions were post-bar interns that were part of the group sworn in by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Consuelo Callahan on Dec. 2.
Over the course of the last several years, District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar has used her staff to specifically target ongoing issues in the community – dedicating a deputy district attorney to prosecute cases involving illegal fireworks, for example, or the recent announcement that her office was actively networking with neighboring counties to share information that will hopefully lead to prosecutions against those participating in organized retail theft.
As an advisory board member of the Prosecutors Alliance, Verber Salazar has proven that she’s willing to try new approaches to solving ongoing criminal justice issues in the community and maintains a visible presence in the county at various public events.
In a public event held by the Manteca Interfaith Community Appeal organization in June that focused on the ongoing homeless issue in the community, Verber Salazar spoke openly about how it would cost $2,500 to hold somebody picked up on “moral” crime charges until they were formally arraigned, and even then are unlikely to appear back in traditional court to answer to the charges.
To combat that ongoing issue, Verber Salazar championed on the ongoing “homeless court” that takes place in San Joaquin County that allows those that are currently unsheltered to clear up any legal issues that could impede their ability to find gainful employment or long-term housing.
To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.
