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Cedar Hill native Alyssa Patterson announces run for Dallas County criminal court
Summary
During the citizens forum, Alyssa Patterson, a Cedar Hill High School graduate and former prosecutor, announced she is running for Dallas County Criminal District Court No. 5 and outlined plans including a youthful first-time offender program for ages 17–25.
Alyssa Patterson, introduced during the citizens forum at the Nov. 11 council meeting, told the council she is running for Dallas County Criminal District Court No. 5 and described priorities she would pursue if elected, including speeding case resolution and a program for youthful first-time felony offenders.
Patterson summarized her background as a Cedar Hill High School graduate (class of 2007), a University of North Texas political science graduate and a University of Oklahoma law school graduate. She said she clerked for the Dallas Court of Appeals and has worked as a prosecutor for the City of Dallas and in Travis County and at the state Capitol.
Discussing court priorities, Patterson said Dallas County was operating at maximum capacity and cited a backlog in criminal custody. "Over 7,100 suspects or defendants were in jail custody," she said, and described plans to set older cases for trial and to work with the district attorney's office on a youthful first-time offender program for ages 17–25 on certain felony charges to give those defendants a second chance.
The mayor interrupted to note Patterson had exceeded a three‑minute public comment time limit and closed her time. Patterson thanked the council for the opportunity to speak.
