DALLAS (AP) - The Dallas County district attorney is changing the way her office handles forfeiture funds to ensure the money is spent for public awareness, education and services.
Susan Hawk said in a statement that she felt it was necessary the office set a new standard to help build trust in the community, The Dallas Morning News reported (https://bit.ly/1JL6F6C ). She wants to post the funds for a public review on a quarterly basis, starting next month.
The district attorney controls the forfeiture fund, which comes from cash and assets seized in crime busts and is meant to be used for law enforcement purposes.
Her predecessor, Craig Watkins, drew criticism after he used funds to pay for off a settlement after he crashed into another vehicle while using his cellphone.
An annual county audit of the fund found it was unclear whether other expenditures were used for law enforcement purposes, including nearly $700 in Mardi Gras beads and about $2,000 in parade fees, T-shirts, pins and wristbands for the district attorney football league.
Hawk said monitoring the funds is a “top priority,” including participating in audits being conducted by the Justice Department and the state auditor’s office. When those finish, she vowed to make any additional changes needed to “ensure ethical and proper use” of the money.
“Our office must have the trust and confidence of the community, and hopefully this is the first step in regaining that trust,” she said.
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Information from: The Dallas Morning News, https://www.dallasnews.com
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