Mr. Adams, recently elected to his ninth term, has been a prosecutor for 35 years, and District Attorney for 30 years, since 1982.

In addition to providing peer-to-peer continuing education for prosecutors, the CDAA is an advocate in the California Legislature for crime victims and community safety.

Mr. Adams said a major focus of the CDAA this year will be to fight expected ballot measures to repeal the death penalty in California and to soften the "three-strikes" law.

"In the Legislature, the Trial Lawyers Association and the American Civil Liberties Union provide a constant drone of voices in support of reducing criminal punishment, increasing prisoner rights and providing counseling instead of consequences to criminal violators at all levels,” Mr. Adams said. “CDAA members are the experts on criminal justice who provide a voice of reason for the Legislature explaining the real, but often unidentified and unintentional consequences of legislative proposals, and speaking on behalf of crime victims and community safety."

Mr. Adams said CDAA is working hard to assist counties in creating intelligent policies at the local level to deal with the realignment proposals adopted by the State of California which send hundreds of felons, formerly housed in the Department of Corrections, to the counties for housing in local jails or supervision while on the streets in the community. As the State's actions were clearly driven in large part by the budget issues, financing is a major problem.

There will be a tax proposal on the November ballot, sponsored by Governor Jerry Brown to provide funding for realignment and CDAA will be supporting that measure so that there will be a chance for the counties to be able to pick up this burden effectively and keep communities safe.

The installation occurred at the CDAA Summer Conference in Napa County.