District Attorney Diana Becton

Trailblazer. Reformer. Proven Leader.

With less than one percent of America’s District Attorney offices led by an African American woman, DA Diana Becton brings decades of legal expertise to her work making a safer and more just Contra Costa County. A celebrated prosecutor and former judge, DA Becton is a groundbreaking leader within California. She is the first woman and first African American to serve as District Attorney for Contra Costa County since the office was established in 1850.

Since taking office in 2017, DA Becton has led a team of over 240 attorneys, investigators, and staff while overseeing a $62 million budget. In 2017, she was sworn in as the 25th District Attorney for Contra Costa County following her appointment from the Board of Supervisors. She was elected to the position in June 2018, and re-elected in June 2022 with a decisive 56 percent of the vote. Under her leadership, Contra Costa County achieved historic reductions in violent and property crime before the end of her first term — reaching levels not seen since 1985.

DA Becton has redefined public safety through bold reform, smart justice and community trust. She has championed youth-focused alternatives, equitable prosecution and transparent policies, and is always grounded in a commitment to safety and dignity for every resident.

Recognized across the country, DA Becton is a national voice for justice. As Past President of the National Association of Women Judges and a respected member of key statewide legal councils, she continues to lead efforts that expand fairness, access and accountability in the legal system.

In addition to serving as DA, Becton has over 22 years of experience as a judge, previously serving  as the Presiding Judge of the County Courts. She led one of the largest courts in the state, bringing new strategies to the bench throughout her tenure. She offers a strong track record, unmatched credibility, hard-earned wisdom and proven leadership.

Making Contra Costa Safer

  • Gang Crime

    Established the Contra Costa County Major Crimes Task Force to effectively investigate and prosecute complex criminal activity countywide, including violent gang activity.

  • Organized Theft

    Continues to aggressively investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, working closely with federal, state and local partners to identify and charge offenders.

  • Sexual Assault

    Cleared the backlog of untested sexual assault kits and implemented a new tracking system to ensure timely testing and follow-up.

  • Victim Support

    Secured funding to expand the services for unserved victims of unsolved shootings and survivors of labor trafficking. Held a Bay Area wide listening session with survivors of violent crime and established the Cold Case Homicide Unit to bring long-overdue justice to victims and their families.

Holding Law Enforcement and Public Officials Accountable

  • Investigations

    Stopped relying on testimony of non-credible police officers. Strengthened the internal investigative procedures associated with the investigation of officer-involved shootings.




  • Accountability

    Developed a new policy requiring reports of DA action in officer-involved shootings. Maintains database of police misconduct. Banned use of carotid hold by DA office investigators.



  • Education

    Held internal training on implicit bias. Launched a Community Academy to provide residents with a better understanding of our criminal justice system, and build relationships and trust.

Barrels of hazardous material. Newspaper headline "Pittsburg-based steel company fined $4 million for hazardous materials, toxic waste violations"

Holding Polluters Accountable

After county investigators found dozens of health violations at a steel company, DA Becton held them accountable and successfully fined the company $4 million.

Ensuring Smart Justice

  • Marijuana Convictions

    Joined the Code for America initiative to dismiss thousands of outdated marijuana convictions that disproportionately impacted communities of color.

  • Resentencing

    Participated in the California County Resentencing Pilot Program to address excessive and outdated prison sentences.

  • Diversion

    Secured funding to expand the Neighborhood Restorative Partnership Program, including new support for Transitional Age Youth (TAY). Focused on accountability while offering treatment, support and alternatives to incarceration.

  • Disposition Bias

    Partnered with The Vera Institute of Justice (VERA) on data analysis to uncover and address bias in the disposition of criminal cases.

  • Advancing Youth Justice

    Awarded $1 million to launch a juvenile pre-filing diversion program. Created the Reimagine Youth Justice Task Force to explore alternatives to incarceration for young people.

  • Modernizing Prosecution

    Established a centralized filing unit for faster, more consistent prosecutorial review. Spearheaded the use of race-blind charging technology to reduce racial bias in charging decisions.