Attention Families and Close Friends Accused of a Criminal Offense
Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 2.01 – “It shall be the primary duty of all prosecuting attorneys, including any special prosecutors, not to convict, but to see that justice is done.”
Right now, you probably feel like your world is turned upside down. You may be angry with the State of Texas (the police/sheriff, the prosecutor), the person that has accused your loved one of a crime, or MAYBE you are angry or crushed because you know your family member/friend did what they are accused of doing.
Once the State of Texas deems that there is evidence that a crime has been committed, a lot of time and attention rightly goes into protecting the victim(s) and trying to seek justice on their behalf. However, we as prosecutors are not robots. Except in the most callous and reprehensible cases, we try hard to maintain open-minds to considering the personhood and humanity of the defendant. We know that sometimes defendants are going through hard times such as: the loss of a job, loss of a spouse, loss of a child, addictions, and a past that doesn’t include the best upbringing or educational opportunities.
You as a family member/friend may feel helpless and that we as prosecutors do not know everything that we should about your loved one. You have the ability to help us understand more about your family member/friend and to help us know more about their past or possibly something you think we need to know about the offense for which he/she is accused. Maybe you want to tell us about something that will help us understand what treatment they need. Maybe you want to tell us about something that will prove their innocence. Maybe you will want to tell us that they are guilty and society really needs to be protected from them. Whatever you feel like you need to share, you are free to submit that via e-mail at: Dojustice@wallercounty.us
We will review your information, but we DO NOT GUARANTEE we will engage with you. Whatever you share may also eventually be shared with the defendant and his/her defense attorney. You are not obligated to engage in this process. Also know that your defendant may not want you to share this information, but you as an individual have a right to share whatever you know with us in furtherance of our overall goal of seeking justice. It is never our goal to see an innocent person suffer.
To the best of your ability use the defendant’s full name and include the approximate date and type of the alleged offense and what you want us to know in a clear and precise manner.