James C. Backstrom

James C. Backstrom has been the County Attorney in Dakota County, Minnesota, since 1987, after serving as an Assistant Dakota County Attorney for nine years. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association and has served as President of this organization on two occasions. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) and co-chaired the Juvenile Justice Committee of NDAA for over a decade. Mr. Backstrom was selected by Minnesota Lawyer Magazine as one of the Attorneys of the Year for 2002 and received the 2006 Johnson Distinguished Service Award, which is the highest honor given by the Minnesota County Attorneys Association.

Mr. Backstrom has been a member of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids for 20 years. He’s been an active proponent of early childhood education as a crime prevention method - highlighting research to policymakers in Washington, DC and in Minnesota. He also routinely utilized Fight Crime: Invest in Kids research and publications in crime prevention materials his office provides to the public.