CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Diana Becton, Contra Costa County’s district attorney, was among the honorees Thursday at U.S. Rep. John Garamendi’s 10th annual Women of the Year event.
Garamendi honored 53 women from the 8th Congressional District of California who are leaders and visionaries in their communities. The honorees have all made significant contributions to society through public service, business, education and local economy, the Congressman said.
“Every year I have the honor of recognizing the achievements and service of distinguished women in my district,” Garamendi said. “These leaders come from a variety of backgrounds, but every one of them has made a real difference to their communities and the people around them. It’s a privilege to be able to honor them.
“The service and dedication each honoree has shown their community is deserving of recognition, and by receiving this award, their work will be commemorated and chronicled at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC,” Garamendi said.
Diana Becton, Woman of the Year
Here is what Garamendi had to say about Diana Becton:
Becton has been Contra Costa County’s District Attorney since 2017. She is the first woman, African American, and woman of color to serve in the role since its creation in 1850. For 22 years, Becton served as a judge in Contra Costa County where she was elected and became president of the National Association of Women Judges.
She is known not only for upholding the law and holding people accountable, but also for striving to improve Contra Costa County’s judicial system by focusing on disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline, creating safe alternatives for low-level non-violent offenders, and addressing the mental health needs of our community. She created the Reimagine Youth Justice Task Force to create alternatives to juvenile hall for young offenders and has made efforts to curb racial bias in her department by partnering with the non-profit Vera Institute of Justice to evaluate her office’s decision-making.
Becton’s accomplishments in the judiciary are too enumerable and impressive to list briefly as she is truly a pillar of her community and a true exemplary of the excellence found in our district.
Becton, far from doing business as usual, has aimed to fundamentally change many aspects of our often harsh criminal justice system to decrease bias and fulfill its duty to serve justice.
View all 53 women of the year here: