The Brazos County District Attorney’s Office is currently accepting applications for the 2021 Fall Citizens’ Prosecutor Academy. This program gives citizens of Brazos County a unique insight into the role of the District Attorney’s Office. Attendees will hear from local prosecutors about crimes in the community. Class sessions will be held Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and will conclude on Nov. 16, 2021.
David Hilburn
David Hilburn is a former prosecutor who spent four years as a district attorney for Brazos County. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Aggie Bar Association. He served as the President, Vice President, and Secretary of the Brazos County Bar Association. He is also a member of the Hillcrest Baptist Church. Hilburn received his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Development from Texas A&M University and his Juris Doctorate from the South Texas College of Law. He was appointed to the district attorney’s position by Governor Greg Abbott.
Hilburn is an experienced criminal attorney and has tried numerous cases involving drug offenses and theft. He has also served as the Chairman of the Republican Party of Brazos County and consistently increased its participation in elections for several years. As a district attorney, Hilburn is committed to upholding the rule of law. He believes in holding individuals accountable for crimes they have committed. He is passionate about protecting the rights of the accused and is a skilled advocate for those who have been wrongfully arrested.
Jarvis Parsons
Jarvis Parsons was elected as the district attorney for Brazos County in November 2012. He graduated from the University of Maine School of Law in 2001. Before that, he served as a law clerk in the Warren County, New Jersey Superior Court. In 2002, he moved to Brazos County and began working for the district attorney’s office. He has been in office for 18 years, and during that time, he has tried a range of criminal cases – from theft of state jails to capital murder.
While Jarvis Parsons has a solid track record as a prosecutor, his biggest accomplishment may be the inclusion of community resources in his office. As a district attorney, he has worked to increase access to community resources that help people who are facing serious and life-threatening issues. His efforts have also included focusing on bridging the gap between police and the community to provide resources that help people overcome problems.
Gil Schultz
Former Houston police officer Gil Schultz, who served as an investigator for the Brazos County District Attorney’s Office, is retiring after nearly 30 years in law enforcement. He was a veteran crime scene investigator who spent 26 years with the Houston Police Department. He moved to the Brazos Valley in the late 1980s to “retire” and was a fixture in the local community. But he never got to see any cases through to the conclusion.
Gil Schultz is a former district attorney
After serving more than three decades as a criminal investigator for the Brazos County District Attorney’s Office, Gil Schultz recently retired. He had previously spent 26 years investigating crime scenes for the Houston Police Department. He moved to the Brazos Valley in the late 1980s, even though it wasn’t exactly a retirement. He wished he had stayed, but he became ill and eventually passed away in December.
Jarvis Parsons’ work with crime victims
A dedicated advocate of domestic violence victims, Jarvis Parsons has created the Cut It Out Campaign to raise awareness about the symptoms of domestic violence and to offer free services to women who are in crisis. In 2014, Parsons founded the Brazos County Crimes Against Women Unit. The unit focuses on cases involving domestic violence and adult sexual assault. Parsons is also on the board of the Brazos County Children Advocacy Center.
Jarvis Parsons was elected as Brazos County District Attorney in November 2012. After graduating from the University of Maine School of Law, he worked as a law clerk for the Warren County, New Jersey, Superior Court. Parsons began his career in 2002 in the district attorney’s office of Brazos County, Texas. Since then, he has tried cases ranging from state jail thefts to capital murder.
The application process for 2021 Fall Citizens’ Prosecutor Academy
The Citizens’ Prosecutor Academy is an opportunity for young people interested in the criminal justice system to gain hands-on experience and insight into the role of a District Attorney’s Office. The Academy features guest speakers from the criminal justice system, including prosecutors, judges, and detectives. The classes are held on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and will conclude on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021.
To apply, a student must have completed the Citizen Prosecutor Academy or have been accepted into another one. If a student has taken a Citizens’ Academy in the past, the applicant should indicate the name of the academy and the year they attended. They must also list the date, the agency, the charge, and the disposition of the case. In addition, applicants may type their answers and attach them to their applications.
