TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
CANDIDATES FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION IN THE BOWIE COUNTY CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY RACE
KELLEY CRISP CURRENT POSITION First Assistant District Attorney
That is why I believe the district attorney has to stay closely connected to serious felony cases, not just supervise them. When more experienced prosecutors are actually in the courtroom trying cases, those cases move instead of piling up, and victims are not left waiting in limbo for answers. That has been my approach for 15 years in Bowie County: focusing on serious crime, building cases for trial, and taking them to a jury when it matters. That is how you protect public safety and make sure accountability is not delayed or denied. How do you see the role of the Bowie County district attorney, and what does justice look like to you? The elected district attorney is the chief law enforcement officer in the county. The Texas Constitution and the Code of Criminal Procedure charge the DA with representing the State in criminal cases, determining how those cases are charged and tried, and making sure justice is done. In East Texas counties like Bowie County, that means the elected DA does more than supervise an office. They prosecute criminal cases, represent the State of Texas in jury trials, and work closely with law enforcement to build cases that can stand up in court. That structure exists because the volume and seriousness of crimes in counties like ours require experienced trial lawyers to be directly involved in the work. I have always believed in close, professional collaboration with law enforcement during investigations. When officers understand what will be needed in court, the evidence and cases are stronger, and cases are more reliable. I am grateful for the trust and support I have earned from law enforcement across this county. The strong bond I have with our outstanding police officers helps carry out the DA’s mission: to pursue justice and protect Bowie County. The elected district attorney can delegate responsibilities and set priorities for the entire office as they see fit. Any of those responsibilities exist to support the core mission of the office, which is the fair and effective prosecution of criminal offenses. In Bowie County, we have heavy caseloads and complex felony cases; justice depends on experienced prosecutors being in the courtroom trying cases, not just overseeing them from a distance. Bowie County needs a strong leader moving these cases forward—someone who understands that prosecuting serious felonies is not something you manage from above, it is something you do. A district attorney who serves primarily as an administrator is possible only in a larger county with a much larger budget. Bowie County has a significant backlog of serious felony cases. It is in the best interest of the citizens of this county, crime victims, and law enforcement to have all available prosecuting attorneys actively trying felony cases. Other duties can be delegated to any number of qualified and experienced support staff.
What are the most pressing public safety issues facing Bowie County right now, and how would you address them as district attorney? Some of the most urgent public safety problems in Bowie County today are crimes against children, drug-driven violence, and repeat offenders who keep cycling through the system without real accountability. When those crimes are not handled quickly and carefully, they do not just affect one victim. They ripple through families and neighborhoods, showing up as abused kids, burglarized homes, overdoses, and people who feel like the system keeps letting them down. What makes the biggest difference in those cases is what happens in a courtroom in front of a jury, and how well those cases are built from the start.
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BUSINESS & POLITICS
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