If you or someone you know is a victim of family violence, visit our resources page to learn about some of the services that are there for you. dao.harriscountytx.gov/Resources

This shift may not get a lot of public attention, but it's an example of how good governance based on evidence and a commitment to reform can make Harris County safer and literally save more lives.

We're also cutting red tape for survivors, making sure we do whatever possible to ease the burden of going through the criminal justice process. We have trauma-informed staff and prosecutors working their cases.

Starting this month, our new Domestic Violence Bureau pivoted to a new high-risk model for managing DV cases. Thanks to millions of dollars from Commissioners Court, we are surging resources to cases that include strangulation, pregnancy, and violations of protective orders.

Gabby was murdered by her fiancé while they were travelling. Her case was the subject of a high-profile Netflix documentary.

Right now, the Harris County DA's office is hosting a training in Aldine to educate law enforcement officers on how to identify the signs of strangulation. We've partnered with Gabby Petito's step father for this full day event.

According to one study, victims who experience non-fatal strangulation by an intimate partner are 750% more likely to be murdered by that partner in the future.

The good news is that we are not powerless against this challenge. Our job as prosecutors is to do more than just hold abusers accountable - we can also ID signs early on to stop the cycle of violence. One of those signs is non-fatal strangulation.

In this case, Goodwin Washington would bribe Haywood and exploit her ability to access and print official records as a DMV employee to obtain certified copies of car titles in order to commit the fraudulent sale.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Prior to making the sale, the conspirators would swap the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the stolen vehicle with a “clean” VIN from a different vehicle of the same make and model.

During the investigation, law enforcement officials uncovered an auto theft operation in which individuals would steal vehicles and then sell the stolen vehicles to a good-faith purchaser.

DMV employee Carlisha Haywood was charged with Bribery and 2 counts of Tampering with a Government Record. Co-conspirator Xavier Goodwin Washington was also charged with two counts of Tampering. All charges are second degree felonies punishable with up to 2-20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.