Diana Becton Inaugurated in Ceremony for A Second Term as District Attorney

Martinez, Calif. –– District Attorney Diana Becton was sworn in by state Attorney General Rob Bonta Wednesday to serve a second term as District Attorney for Contra Costa County. The public ceremony took place at the county Board of Supervisors chambers in Martinez.

“I am honored to continue as District Attorney of Contra Costa County and serving its residents,” Becton said. “In my first term, we made significant progress in improving the criminal justice system and advocating for the rights of our community. I am committed to building on that progress and working tirelessly to ensure that justice is served.”

During her first term, Becton held accountable those who harmed victims of crime. She also implemented several reforms including a focus on restorative justice and alternatives to incarceration for low-level crimes, treatment for people addicted to drugs or suffering from mental illness, as well as a commitment to being more transparent to the residents of Contra Costa County.

Moreover, Becton established a Hate Crimes Unit to combat the rise in hate incidents in the county, cracked down on organized retail theft rings, eliminated the backlog of sexual assault test kits, formally partnered with the U.S. Department of Labor to combat wage theft, worked with Code for America to dismiss old marijuana convictions, and is part of the Reproductive Rights Task Force started by the state Attorney General, Rob Bonta.

Prior to being elected District Attorney in 2018 and 2022, she served as a judge in Contra Costa County for 22 years and was elected Presiding Judge in 2011. She is the first woman, the first African American, and the first person of color to serve as Contra Costa District Attorney since the office was established in 1850. DA Becton has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from San Francisco State University, a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco, and a Master of Theological Studies from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley.

“I am grateful to the voters who have twice elected me and look forward to continuing to serve the residents of Contra Costa County with integrity, fairness, and equal justice under the law,” Becton said.