Oscar Salinas is a Brownsville native who has served as a prosecutor in Bexar County for more than a decade.
Hear from the candidate
1. Please tell voters about yourself.
I am 37 years old and I live in San Antonio, Texas. I am a first generation college
graduate, a husband, and a father to two children, Giovanni and Camila. I delivered Camila at home when she decided she was ready to come into the world unexpectedly, leaving us no time to get to the hospital. I am a graduate of The University of Texas School of Law and I am currently in my 12th year as a career prosecutor.
I have tried nearly 70 jury trials and have prosecuted a wide range of cases, from
misdemeanors to violent felonies. I also have experience prosecuting public officials. While assigned to the Public Integrity and Cyber Crime Unit, I worked closely with the Texas Attorney General’s Office to ensure that cases involving the possession or downloading of Child Sexual Abuse Material were prosecuted effectively and to the fullest extent of the law.
2. Tell us about how long you’ve been practicing law, areas of expertise and prosecutorial experience, if any.
I have spent my entire legal career as a prosecutor. In addition to my extensive trial
experience, I have mentored younger prosecutors and helped train them to become effective advocates. I have fought hard for victims of crime while also taking a common sense, fair, and thoughtful approach to prosecution.
3. This office has been under stress in many ways, in terms of understaffing, case backlog and crimes committed by repeat offenders. Talk about your plans to make change in the first 100 days.
Many changes are needed in our office. Our community has grown rapidly, nearly 27 percent over the last 15 years, yet the resources provided to our office have not kept pace. Because of this, we must be intentional and strategic with the resources we do have.
My focus will be on implementing an effective training program for new prosecutors that emphasizes both trial strategy and sound case analysis. I also plan to address the backlog of cases by empowering prosecutors to reject or dismiss cases that cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Additionally, I will institute policies that improve communication with victims so cases can be resolved in a more timely and transparent manner.
4. Talk about your philosophical approach to balancing the public’s desire to see all types of crimes prosecuted with the rehabilitative justice policies that provide a path forward for some offenders?
Nearly 98 percent of individuals who come into contact with the criminal justice system will eventually return to the community. For that reason, I believe in a balanced and collaborative approach to criminal justice that involves all stakeholders.
I view cases as falling into four categories. The first category includes young individuals who commit offenses but are redeemable. The second category includes individuals who commit non violent offenses due to a lapse in judgment. The third category includes individuals whose criminal behavior is driven by mental health or substance use issues and who struggle to break the cycle of the justice system. The fourth category includes individuals who commit violent offenses and must be kept away from society to ensure public safety.
Our prosecutorial resources should be primarily focused on the fourth category. At the same time, we must work collaboratively with probation, county leadership, and community partners to provide the tools and support needed for individuals in categories one through three to overcome setbacks and remain productive members of our community.
5. In a crowded field of candidates, what differentiates you from the others running?
What separates me from the other candidates is that I am a current prosecutor who
understands the real challenges our office faces today. I have earned the trust of many in the law enforcement community through years of hands-on experience. Our office needs a leader who has actually done this work and understands it from the inside. I am that leader.
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