MISSION STATEMENT

The Smith County District Attorney's Office exists to serve Smith County through professional, aggressive, ethical and diligent legal representation. We strive to live out these principles in our prosecution of offenders, protection of children, representation of the county, assistance to victims and cooperation with law enforcement. Our goal is to see that justice is done in every case.

Criminal District Attorney Jacob Putman

Jacob Putman is a native of Tyler, Texas. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from Wheaton College in Illinois and his Juris Doctor from Oklahoma City University. In 2008, he began his career as a prosecutor with the Smith County Criminal District Attorney's Office. After a decade of dedicated service,  he was elected Smith County Criminal District Attorney in 2018, a position he continues to hold. 

Jacob and his wife of 20 years, Rachael, are proud parents of three children and are active members of Bethel Bible Church.

About the Office

The Smith County Criminal District Attorney's Office is steadfast in its mission to promote public safety by holding offenders accountable and safeguarding the community. Annually, the office processes more than 7,000 new criminal cases, encompassing a broad spectrum from capital murder to misdemeanor theft. These cases are prosecuted by a highly skilled team of attorneys, investigators and support staff for each of the four felony courts and three misdemeanor courts.

Beyond criminal prosecutions, the Civil Division serves a vital function by providing comprehensive legal support to all elected officials and appointed administrators of Smith County. This division offers expert legal advice on diverse matters, helping to ensure the county operates with integrity and efficiency.

The Smith County Criminal District Attorney's Office also handles all juvenile criminal cases in Smith County and represents the Department of Family Protective Services in family court proceedings.

Since District Attorney Jacob Putman's swearing-in in 2019, the office has expanded from 48 to 97 staff members, including 28 investigators and analysts dedicated to the Financial Crime Intelligence Center. Together, this team is committed to serving Smith County's nearly 250,000 residents by pursuing justice, safeguarding the innocent and deterring criminal behavior.

Contact Us

Location:

100 North Broadway Avenue, 4th Floor
Tyler, Texas 75702

Office Hours:

 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  Monday - Friday
Closed from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Main Office: (903) 590-1720
Felony Fax: (903) 590-1719
Misdemeanor Fax: (903) 590-1715

Important Links

Employment

Current open positions with Smith County: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/smithcountytx 
Job postings for attorney positions as available: https://www.tdcaa.com/job-bank/

Records

Smith County Judicial Records - https://portal.smith-county.com/Public/
Open Records Requests - https://smithcountytx.justfoia.com/publicportal/home/newrequest