TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
JERRY D. ROCHELLE Current Position Bowie County Criminal District Attorney
and community partners to expand mental health diversion options and crisis intervention strategies while maintaining public safety. My goal is the same as when I first started as district attorney: to protect the public, promote trust in the justice system, and give victims a voice within the system. By focusing on serious crime, supporting treatment when appropriate, standing with victims, and working closely with law enforcement and advocacy groups, we can address Bowie County's public safety challenges in a way that is effective, fair, and responsive to the community. How do you see the role of the Bowie County district attorney, and what does justice look like to you? As Ronald Reagan famously said, “There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.” I have humbly served the citizens of Bowie County for the last 15 years. I currently have six attorneys, five investigators, two victim advocates, one paralegal, and seven support staff members handling over 3,000 cases per year. I continue to represent the State in court and have personally handled over 2,300 misdemeanor cases and reviewed over 1,300 felony cases in 2025 alone. Since taking office, the total number of convictions is 24,033. The job of district attorney is so much more than being a prosecutor and trying cases. I have no need or desire for recognition that comes from trying big cases. The cases are not about the attorneys, but the victims. The office is responsible for those cases, and I am responsible for the office and its staff. It is my duty alone to decide if and when the State will seek the death penalty, and who will be assigned to the case. There are numerous administrative duties as well—managing staff, budget, court staffing, personnel issues, dealing with public complaints, etc. I ensure that all is being done to effectively and efficiently represent Bowie County. My responsibility is to seek justice fairly, ethically, and consistently while protecting public safety and maintaining the public's trust in the justice system. As stated in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, my job, according to the oath I took, is not to secure convictions but to seek justice. I personally review all of the felony and misdemeanor cases presented to the DA's office. No one prosecutor has ever obtained a conviction in Bowie County. A conviction is the culmination of law enforcement, DA investigators, victim coordinators, advocates, counselors, staff, and prosecutors working together. The resulting conviction is a win for all. Justice means holding individuals responsible for their actions. Justice also requires balance and compassion. It is not a one-size- fits-all proposition. Many people who enter the criminal justice system are dealing with addiction, mental health challenges, or generational trauma. Ultimately, justice is about doing what is right, not what is easiest. It means protecting the community, respecting the rule of law, standing with victims, ensuring fairness for defendants while holding them accountable, and using the authority of this office responsibly. When the system is fair, transparent, and focused on both safety and humanity, public trust grows, and that is the foundation of true justice.
What are the most pressing public safety issues facing Bowie County right now, and how would you address them as district attorney? As the current district attorney of Bowie County, the most pressing public safety issues we face are violent crime, substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual offenses, cases of child victimization or exploitation, and the growing intersection between mental health and the criminal justice system. Substance abuse continues to impact families, crime rates, and our court system. I support drug courts and treatment-based alternatives for non-violent offenders, while remaining firm on those who traffic drugs into our community. Domestic violence and sexual assault are critical issues in Bowie County. These crimes are often underreported and deeply traumatic. I am committed to a victim-centered approach, ensuring victims are treated with dignity, kept informed, and supported by advocates throughout the process. I budget for specialized training for prosecutors to work directly with law enforcement and victims to strengthen these cases and hold offenders accountable. Mental health challenges are increasingly present in our criminal justice system. Many individuals entering the system need treatment, not incarceration. I work with judges, law enforcement,
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