Connect with us

News

Race, justice and the heated contest for Dallas DA

NNPA NEWSWIRE — With the recent spate of high profile deaths of Black men at the hands of white police officers and the apparent inequalities of treatment received by minorities in prosecution and sentencing practices in the current judicial system, Democrat John Creuzot has made reforming criminal justice front and center in his campaign.

Published

on

Democrat John Creuzot (at right) has made racial disparities a central issue in his quest to unseat current Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson (seated left). (Photo: David Wilfong / NDG)

By David Wilfong, NDG Contributing Writer

The race for District Attorney is a hotly contested one in Dallas County. Currently, the office is held by Republican Faith Johnson after being appointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. She is being challenged by Democrat John Creuzot, who earned the chance to compete by defeating fellow Democrat Elizabeth Frizell in the primaries.

With the recent spate of high profile deaths of Black men at the hands of white police officers and the apparent inequalities of treatment received by minorities in prosecution and sentencing practices in the current judicial system, Creuzot has made reforming criminal justice front and center in his campaign.

But the issues of race should be well noted among Creuzot’s opponents as well. Both in the primary and general elections, he has run against African American women. When asked why such issues would not be served by them just as well, Creuzot said it doesn’t matter.

But Creuzot sees no irony in the optics.

“I do not think the race or sex of my opponents has a bearing on their awareness of the issues of disparate treatment of minorities in the criminal justice system,” Creuzot said. “I am the only candidate in this race focusing on ending mass incarceration. Ending mass incarceration requires an acknowledgment of racial and socioeconomic disparities that give rise to mass incarceration. Understanding and acknowledging those facts are the only basis for developing a new approach to end the structural components of mass incarceration.”

He says past programs he devised and implemented prove his commitment to these causes were not adopted for the purpose of one political race.

“In DIVERT Court, we reduced rearrests by 68 percent and created a cost savings of $9.34 for every dollar spent,” Creuzot said. “After completion of the program requirements, the cases were dismissed and expunged. The program participants were charged with felony offenses. Dismissal and expunction allowed participants to create a normal criminal justice background-free life, unburdened with a criminal record. Those programs became the model for similar programs across the state. The DIVERT program is now replicated, in part, by over 300 programs in Texas.

“In 2005, the Texas Legislature was faced with a projection of needing 17,000 new prison beds in addition to the already existing 150,000 beds. The legislature adopted the philosophy of treatment over incarceration, which I pioneered, with a result that we have now closed eight prisons. Our prison population has been reduced to 141,000 prison beds.”

During a recent Monday Night Politics (MNP) forum, hosted by the Dallas Examiner at Fair Park, Creuzot went as far as to say that some cases could be averted by merely not filing them. Questioned as to whether such discretion is feasible or fair, he quickly defended the option.

“Yes, it is within the discretion of the District Attorney to not file cases or, working in collaboration with other departments or social service agencies, to provide treatment and other related services to reduce the likelihood of repeated behaviors that violate our laws,” Creuzot said. “By exercising prosecutorial discretion of cases to lessen the burden of a criminal record to a person does not create legalization of the offense. Despite more rational approaches, some offenders will refuse services and opt for prosecution. That seems counterintuitive, but some people will choose to take that route. The criteria should be whether the person poses a threat to the community, can be treated with non-criminal justice services and whether a new approach will save taxpayer dollars.”

Finally, with partisanship running high throughout the country, Creuzot was asked about the need to paint his opponent as someone to “spread the Republican message” in an office such as District Attorney (which he did at the MNP forum). Many feel the office should be a non-partisan position in the first place, and whether or not the Republican-Democrat dynamic plays itself out in a significant way.

“‘Spreading the Republican message,’ was a direct quote from the then-party chair made at Ms. Johnson’s swearing-in ceremony,” Creuzot said. “The dynamic plays out in an implicit or explicit recognition of bias in the criminal justice system; the training of prosecutors to handle low-level offenses in a way that saves tax dollars and creates public safety. My platform is rational, realistic, and moral. We got into this mess by doing the same things over and over. A true criminal justice reformer with a distinguished track record of measured and verified results can guide us out of the realities of structural mass incarceration.”

(Editor’s note: Faith Johnson was given the opportunity to address the same questions posed to John Creuzot. No response was received by press time.)

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Comments

Featured

Headline: FAMU Homecoming Injuries, Discarded Ballots & Rising Holiday Costs 📱

A FAMU homecoming turns tragic, election ballots are found in a park, and inflation hits your holiday plans. Get the full story on Black Press USA’s Morning Show.

Published

on

A FAMU homecoming celebration takes a troubling turn, with 12 people injured, including six children. Meanwhile, two bins of undelivered ballots are discovered in a Seattle park dumpster, raising questions about election security.

Plus, Thanksgiving dinner could cost families more this year, and soaring chocolate prices are putting a damper on Halloween candy sales.

From public safety and election integrity to the rising cost of everyday life, we’re breaking down the headlines and the stories impacting our communities.

Watch Black Press USA’s Morning Show for the headlines, the context, and the conversation behind the news.

#BlackPressUSA #MorningShow #BlackNews #FAMU #ElectionNews #CostOfLiving

Continue Reading

Featured

Headline: FAMU Homecoming Injuries, Discarded Ballots & Rising Holiday Costs

From the FAMU homecoming tragedy to election ballot concerns and rising holiday costs, we break down the news impacting our communities. Watch the latest report.

Published

on

News graphic showing FAMU homecoming injury headlines, discarded ballot reports, and rising holiday cost inflation statistics.

A FAMU homecoming celebration takes a troubling turn, with 12 people injured, including six children. Meanwhile, two bins of undelivered ballots are discovered in a Seattle park dumpster, raising questions about election security.

Plus, Thanksgiving dinner could cost families more this year, and soaring chocolate prices are putting a damper on Halloween candy sales.

From public safety and election integrity to the rising cost of everyday life, we’re breaking down the headlines and the stories impacting our communities.

Watch Black Press USA’s Morning Show for the headlines, the context, and the conversation behind the news.

#BlackPressUSA #MorningShow #BlackNews #FAMU #ElectionNews #CostOfLiving

Continue Reading

Featured

OTR @ Par 365

Thomas Jackson discusses his journey from pandemic golfer to the founder of Par365, a Roseville space dedicated to making the sport accessible and community-focused.

Published

on

By

Host speaking into a microphone during an OTR podcast episode at the Par 365 golf facility in Minnesota.

Thomas Jackson’s favorite part about being a Black business owner in Minnesota is the ability to create community, perspective, autonomy and authentic experiences.

On this episode of MSR On the Radar, Jackson joins host Damenica Ellis to talk about discovering golf during the COVID-19 pandemic and how that hobby became Par365, an indoor golf simulator, bar, restaurant and event space in Roseville that he and his wife opened in December 2023. Their mission was to make golf more accessible, more affordable and more approachable.

Jackson shares how breaking into the industry took marketing, local partnerships and social events, why intimidated newcomers needed extra encouragement, and the programming Par365 built in response, including Golf 101 sessions and a speaker series for middle and high school students. He also talks about moving from a corporate product development career to full-time entrepreneurship, balancing the business with family life, and his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: compress your vision into a minimum viable product and grow at a reasonable pace.

Listen to the full conversation.

Continue Reading

Featured

OTR w LeBrent Speed

LeBrent Speed shares how his B3 Project is revolutionizing networking by prioritizing community impact and mentorship over simple sales.

Published

on

By

LeBrent Speed sitting in a studio chair for an On The Record interview with the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

LeBrent Speed founded The Better Black Business (B3) Project to intentionally combine commerce and community for Black entrepreneurs and authentic allies. Just over two years in, the professional networking program has more than 100 members and is expanding to other cities.

On this episode of MSR On the Radar, Speed shares how a licensed minister who always aspired to work in business became BNI’s first Black regional director, and why he saw a need for more intentional Black networking spaces. He explains B3’s founding principle of serving over selling, defines networking as the intentional pursuit of impactful relationships, and talks about his nonprofit, The Better Black Business Initiative, which trains Black youth, next-generation allies and justice-impacted people to become entrepreneurs.

Speed also discusses his first book, “The Transformation Code: 5 Keys to Transforming Your Life and Impacting the World,” and how it grew out of one of the lowest periods of his life.

Listen to the full conversation.

Continue Reading

Featured

OTR w Terresa Moses @ Black Garnett Books

Terresa Moses shares her journey from social justice design to running Black Garnet Books. Discover how she builds community through storytelling and entrepreneurship.

Published

on

By

Terresa Moses discussing her book OTR at Black Garnett Books in a Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder interview.

Terresa Hardaway says her favorite part of being a business owner is the chance to intentionally build community. In 2017, she co-founded Blackbird Revolt, a design studio focused on social justice, anti-racism and abolition. In 2024, she acquired Black Garnet Books.

Blackbird Revolt helps government agencies, nonprofits and grassroots organizations with branding, animation, video and audio production, fabrication and other creative work. At Black Garnet Books, Hardaway uses storytelling to show what Black liberation looks like, curating Black and Brown authors and hosting events that center community.

She also shares how she adapted her bookstore during Operation Metro Surge, how her network gave her the confidence to become an entrepreneur, and her advice for anyone starting a business: have a plan, know who you are, and surround yourself with people who will remind you when you forget.

Hardaway is an associate professor of graphic design and director of design justice at the University of Minnesota’s College of Design.

Continue Reading

Featured

Stay Focused: Make Your Vote Count This Election

Don’t let the headlines distract you from what matters. Watch Dr. Warren’s latest message on staying focused and making your voice count this November.

Published

on

By

Close-up of a voter using a ballot box with text overlay Stay Focused: Make Your Vote Count This Election.

🗳️🚨 Don’t let the headlines distract you from what matters! Dr. Warren urges voters to stay focused, look beyond the political scandals, and make their voices count at the polls this November. Watch the full From the Desk of the Editor episode now!

#StayFocused #Election2026 #FromtheDeskoftheEditor #VoiceAndViewpoint

Continue Reading

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE NEWS UPDATES IN YOUR INBOX

Subscribe

* indicates required

Like BlackPressUSA on Facebook

Advertisement

Advertise on BlackPressUSA

advertise with blackpressusa.com

Latest News