Governor Abbott Appoints Devaney To Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force

TEXAS, September 2 - September 2, 2026 | Austin, Texas | Press Release | Appointment

Governor Greg Abbott appointed Jessica Devaney to the Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force for a term set to expire at the pleasure of the Governor. The Task Force shall analyze the top risk factors that may lead to family violence criminal homicide, advise and provide resources to state agencies and nonprofit organizations to develop and improve training for professionals who interact with survivors of family violence; collect, analyze, and make publicly available information that is not privileged, confidential, or otherwise prohibited from disclosure by law, organized by region, and develop policy recommendations to assist the state.

Jessica Devaney of New Braunfels is an associate judge for the Office of Court Administration. Previously, she was an attorney in private practice and an assistant district attorney for the Comal County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and its Child Protection Law Section, the Texas Bar College, and the Supreme Court Children’s Commission Subcommittee. She is a former member of the Texas Association of Family Defense Attorneys and the Guadalupe County Child Welfare Board. Devaney received a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Texas A&M University and a Juris Doctor from Texas A&M School of Law.