Home Contra Costa County Venus D. Johnson Hired as Contra Costa County Assistant District Attorney

Venus D. Johnson Hired as Contra Costa County Assistant District Attorney

by ECT

Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton announced on Friday the hiring of Venus D. Johnson as Assistant District Attorney. Mrs. Johnson will help shape criminal justice policy for the office, in addition to overseeing the Family Violence Prosecution units, the Community Violence Reduction Unit, and the Homicide and Gang Units. Mrs. Johnson will begin her new role on February 5, 2018.

Most recently, Mrs. Johnson served as the Director of Public Safety for Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. In that role, she served as a policy advisor to Mayor Schaaf and co-lead the Oakland Police Department’s working group responsible for creating the curriculum and teaching the second phase of procedural justice training for all sworn and professional staff. She also worked in partnership with the California Partnership for Safe Communities, the Oakland Police Department, and city and community leaders to support Ceasefire, Oakland’s data driven violence reduction strategy. Mrs. Johnson also worked closely with Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth to promote the principles of restorative justice within the city, school district and criminal justice system.

Previously, Mrs. Johnson served as the Associate Attorney General for California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris. She managed the Attorney General’s executive team and served as a senior legal and policy advisor to the Attorney General — focusing particularly on criminal justice, law enforcement, the interplay of technology and privacy as it relates to law enforcement, police and community relations, criminal prosecutions as well as criminal appeals, habeas proceedings, and cert petitions. Prior to that, Mrs. Johnson was a Deputy Attorney General in the Attorney General’s Office of Legislative Affairs. As an expert in criminal law, she represented the Attorney General’s Office on a wide variety of matters before the California Legislature. Her duties included assisting in the development of the Attorney General’s legislative agenda and advising legislative staff and committee consultants on the technical and policy implications of proposed legislation.

Mrs. Johnson began her legal career as a prosecutor in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office in January of 2006. She spent eight years as a deputy district attorney prosecuting a wide variety of misdemeanor and felony cases. She served as a member of both the Child Sexual Assault Unit, and the Strike Team — a two-person team charged with handling Oakland’s most violent and repeat offenders. Mrs. Johnson also served as a member of the Officer Involved Shooting Team.

Prior to her departure from Alameda County, Ms. Johnson worked in the DNA Cold Case Unit, a two-person unit responsible for investigating and prosecuting unsolved homicide and sexual assault cases with the use of modern DNA technology. The unit was also tasked with working with local law enforcement agencies throughout Alameda County to reduce the backlog of untested sexual assault kits.

Mrs. Johnson earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Loyola Marymount University, and her law degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. Ms. Johnson previously served as a member of the Board of Directors for Holy Names High School in Oakland and is a past president of the Charles Houston Bar Association. Appointed by former Attorney General Kamala D. Harris, she currently serves as a member of the California Commission on Access to Justice, a state commission responsible for developing solutions to improve access to civil justice for low and moderate-income Californians.

“I am honored to join the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office,” said Mrs. Johnson. “As prosecutors, we are responsible for ensuring the safety of our communities, protecting victims of crime, and ensuring the scales of justice remain fair and balanced for everyone. I look forward to working side by side with local law enforcement and our community partners as we work toward creating safer communities and a more fair and just system.”

You may also like

17 comments

Lola Saavedra Feb 5, 2018 - 2:21 pm

I don’t trust anyone who’s been associated with Kamala Harris being put in a position with the Contra Costa DA’s office. They are nothing but bleeding hearts who are soft on criminals like Harris was.

D Feb 5, 2018 - 11:57 pm

I was thinking the same thing…..

Julio Feb 5, 2018 - 3:46 pm

The original posting of this article and the comments have been erased.

That does not seem to me to be a good thing to have happen. What happened Mr. Editor?

EBJ Feb 6, 2018 - 9:07 pm

julio —– That’s called CENSORSHIP! I thoroughly resent anyone using censorship of any sorts to shut people up! It smacks of communism . . . and worse! Whether it’s popular or not, people in this country should be allowed to have their say!

Dmitri Feb 7, 2018 - 2:50 am

Communism? The word you’re looking for is fascism. Nice try though.

Elizabeth Feb 7, 2018 - 12:46 pm

You’re off your meds, Dmitri!

Melanie Feb 7, 2018 - 7:39 am

Freedom of speech does NOT include saying anything you want. You can’t shout fire in a crowded theater. He can erase any comments he wants. Blogs do it all the time. It’s his blog, and he doesn’t have to answer to anyone.

If you resent it – blog elsewhere. Nobody is forcing you to stay.

Dawn Feb 7, 2018 - 12:35 pm

You sure as hell can yell “FIRE” in a crowded theater is there is a fire! That can save peoples’ lives unless you want them incinerated!

Nick Feb 7, 2018 - 5:22 pm

I can yell you’re a dumb broad.

Jerry's Dad Feb 7, 2018 - 12:45 pm

Please knock off this attitude! We can blog anywhere we wish if we don’t use four letter words. Ok? Jeeeeeez! Another dictator on the loose!

Nick Feb 5, 2018 - 9:09 pm

How old is the photo? She looks like she’s still in high school or college.

Lola Saavedra Feb 6, 2018 - 8:53 pm

She’s pushing 40! That’s an old photo.

Old Pittsburg/Antioch Hwy Border Feb 7, 2018 - 5:41 am

This women did the following in 11 years?
A prosecutor in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office overseeing the Family Violence Prosecution units,the Community Violence Reduction Unit, and the Homicide and Gang Units.served as the Director of Public Safety for Oakland, co-lead the Oakland Police Department’s working group,California Partnership for Safe Communities, the Oakland Police Department, and city and community leaders to support Ceasefire, Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth, Associate Attorney General, senior legal and policy adviser to the Attorney General, managed the Attorney General’s executive team, Deputy Attorney General in the Attorney General’s Office of Legislative Affairs, Child Sexual Assault Unit, and the Strike Team Officer Involved Shooting Team, worked in the DNA Cold Case Unit, Mrs. Johnson earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Loyola Marymount University, and her law degree from the University of the Pacific, and McGeorge School of Law. Ms. Johnson previously served as a member of the Board of Directors for Holy Names High School in Oakland and is a past president of the Charles Houston Bar Association,she currently serves as a member of the California Commission on Access to Justice, and back to Assistant District Attorney in Contra Costa County.
Either she never sleeps and is a superwoman worthy of a Presidential run or, sadly, she is tossed around as a face in every department to satisfy a quota. I do not understand why she started as a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s office and 11 years of incredible resume building she settles for Assistant District Attorney.

Dawn Feb 7, 2018 - 12:47 pm

You sure as hell can yell “FIRE” in a crowded theater if there is a fire! That can save peoples’ lives unless you want them incinerated!

Lib Destroyer Feb 7, 2018 - 5:07 pm

You’re absolutely correct! This is why people should look to see where the nearest exit is available.

Melanie Feb 7, 2018 - 8:09 pm

Dawn – If you had a brain, you would know what the saying means. You can’t shout fire unless there’s a fire. You would also know what I was referring to, but you’re too stupid to get it.

KRC Feb 19, 2018 - 6:04 pm

Congratulations! I am so glad a community and justice-oriented woman is in office! We NEED you in Contra Costa County!

Comments are closed.