From the Office of the District Attorney:
Martinez, California — In an age where there’s so much information available to us, why would The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office start a podcast?
The answer is simple: to inform the public on legal issues that directly impact our community. The approach of the Cross-Examination podcast is one that focuses on depth and detail, wrapped up in engaging discussions.
Cross-Examination aims to unpack the complexities of the criminal justice system, shine a light on important public safety topics, and foster transparency in law enforcement as it applies to residents in Contra Costa County.
The debut episode features District Attorney Diana Becton in a conversation with hosts Ted Asregadoo and Deputy District Attorney Brian Feinberg. Together, they explore the vital role of the District Attorney’s Office in seeking justice, maintaining public safety, and balancing these responsibilities with the need for reform.
Other episodes delve into timely and relevant topics, such as retail theft. Chief of Inspectors Arnold Threets shares insights from real-world cases and discusses crime prevention strategies, while criminologist Dr. Samuel DeWitt examines how media coverage influences public perception of crime.
Looking ahead, Cross-Examination will feature a behind-the-scenes look at crime reporting with veteran journalist Henry Lee from KTVU FOX 2. Lee discusses the challenges of covering crime stories in a fastpaced, social media-driven environment.
By launching this podcast, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office is providing a way for the public to gain a better understanding of the criminal justice system from multiple angles. District Attorney Diana Becton said, “I think podcasts about the kind of work our local government does — especially the District Attorney’s Office — will be beneficial in building trust by fostering stronger community relations through deep discussions about issues related to public safety.”
Cross-Examination is available now on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and other podcast platforms.
Taking podcast efforts at face value, I do take it as a positive step towards granting the public a glimpse of how the “sausage is made” at the CoCo DA’s office. However, my concern is that there are some who will simply disregard same as an insincere attempt to restore public confidence in the office, based upon the belief that progressive tendencies relative to prosecution (or lack thereof) that has caused a surge in criminal activity in our neck of the woods.
As stated above, I believe this is nothing more than an insincere attempt to cover up for the years of “progressive” tendencies in the CoCo DA’s office. Becton is worried that she is going to go the way of Pamela Price.
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